"That could be one area wherein they might just want to beef up" - Sanjay Bangar on Punjab Kings' requirements in IPL 2026 auction

Former India player Sanjay Bangar has opined that the Punjab Kings (PBKS) would want to bolster their top-order batting in the IPL 2026 auction. He highlighted that the IPL 2025 runners-up have released Josh Inglis and might not be sure about Priyansh Arya replicating his last season's performances.

Inglis was among five players released by PBKS ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. The Shreyas Iyer-led side has a remaining budget of ₹11.50 crore and can buy at most four players, including two overseas, at the mini auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, December 16.

During an interaction on Star Sports, Bangar noted that the Punjab Kings would want to acquire an experienced top-order batter at the IPL 2026 auction.

"I think their priority could be getting a proven performer at the top of the order. They used Josh Inglis at the top of the order and that proved quite effective as well, by not having maybe an Azmatullah Omarzai in the squad (XI)," the former PBKS coach said.

"You are not really sure whether Priyansh Arya can replicate the performances of the previous season. So maybe somebody at the top of the order who provides that experience and the pedigree. That could be one area wherein they might just want to beef up. In the Indian category, I don't think that Prabhsimran Singh or Priyansh's backups are quite easily available," he added.

Prabhsimran Singh (549) and Priyansh Arya (475) were the Punjab Kings' second and third-highest run-getters in IPL 2025. Only Shreyas Iyer (604) scored more runs for the franchise in this year's edition of the Indian Premier League.

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"Ben Duckett might fit in this particular squad quite well" - Sanjay Bangar on Punjab Kings' potential acquisition in IPL 2026 auction

Ben Duckett is one of the overseas openers available at the IPL 2026 auction. [P/C: Getty]

In the same interaction, Sanjay Bangar opined that Ben Duckett would be a good acquisition for the Punjab Kings at the IPL 2026 auction.

"I think Ben Duckett might fit in this particular squad quite well because he is a good player of spin bowling as well. He reverse sweeps and sweeps the ball nicely, and he is very good against pace," he said.

The former India all-rounder added that the England opener would be an ideal replacement for Josh Inglis.

"So for Inglis' replacement, you certainly want to have somebody like a Ben Duckett. Ben Duckett could actually be a good mix for Punjab," Bangar observed.

Ben Duckett has scored 527 runs at a strike rate of 153.64 in 20 T20Is. The left-handed opener has amassed 5,397 runs at a strike rate of 140.18 in 216 T20s.