IPL 2025: 5 Players PBKS Will Retain Ahead Of Mega Auction

Arshdeep Singh is likely to one of the top retentions for PBKS (Source:@cricketverse_/X.com)Arshdeep Singh is likely to one of the top retentions for PBKS (Source:@cricketverse_/X.com)

The reports of BCCI finalising five retentions for IPL 2025 are going around in world cricket currently, and it has created a lot of buzz with fans and pundits busy predicting the list of five players of different franchises. Punjab Kings, the perennial underachievers of IPL, have the knack of chopping and changing after every season, and they have already made a significant change by bringing in Ricky Ponting as the new head coach ahead of the mega auction.

Their designated captain of the last season, Shikhar Dhawan, has retired and other than him, Punjab Kings has a pretty inexperienced Indian arsenal, which makes choosing five players quite a difficult task for them. However, there is no shortage of quality, so, let's find out who could be their five retentions ahead of the mega auction.

Shashank Singh

The powerful right-handed batter was a relatively unknown entity before the start of the 2024 season, but turned the tables brilliantly in the last edition. He was a rare shining light for the franchise in the last season as he smashed 354 runs at an average of 44.25 and a strike-rate of 164.65. Also, his performances came under immense pressure and his ability to hit clean was praised from all corners.

There are also very few quality Indian finishers that would be up for grabs in the auction, so we can expect Punjab Kings to retain Shashank Singh ahead of mega auction.

Prabhsimran Singh

The wicketkeeper batter is one of the most highly-rated youngsters in the Indian domestic circuit. He is known for his impressive strike rate and ability to go after the bowling from the onset, which makes him a hot asset. Punjab Kings have backed Prabhsimran Singh for quite a long time now, and he produced decent results as well in the last couple of seasons, with over 350 runs at a strike rate of more than 150.

He is a young cricketer with a great record in domestic cricket in T20s for Punjab, as his overall average is over 30. So, with a new cycle coming up and Prabhsimran showing signs of maturity in the last couple of seasons, Punjab Kings are likely to back the opener and retain him to maintain a solid Indian core.

Jitesh Sharma

The hard-hitting wicketkeeper batter was an integral part of Punjab Kings in the last cycle. He even led the franchise in the absence of Dhawan and Sam Curran last season and is one of the most fearsome hitters of the cricket ball in Indian cricket. He had a below-par season last time around but remains a quality batter who has played for India as well and also played a big role in the limited success the franchise got in the 2023 and 2022 seasons.

Also, Jitesh Sharma provides flexibility with his ability to bat anywhere in the batting order and has the potential to win matches for his side single-handedly. There is also a dearth of quality Indian wicketkeepers, so Jitesh is most likely to be retained by PBKS and could be considered as a captaincy option as well.

Arshdeep Singh

Arshdeep Singh was the leading wicket-taker for India in the T20 World Cup 2024 and has been an integral part of Punjab Kings for quite a few years now. He has taken 76 wickets in 65 matches in IPL but brings more to the table than just wickets, as he often bowls the most difficult overs of the game. 

He is a gun-death bowler and can swing the ball in the Powerplay as well, which makes him an important asset for PBKS. So, Arshdeep Singh is expected to be one of the top retentions for the franchise ahead of the mega auction.

Sam Curran

Sam Curran led Punjab Kings for quite a few games in the 2024 and 2023 seasons in the absence of Punjab Kings and is a quality all-rounder. He can bowl in varied conditions, just like Arshdeep Singh, and is also a quality death bowler. Along with the ball, Sam Curran is a reliable batter as well and even opened the innings for the franchise in the last edition.

So, with world-class all-round skills and leadership experience, Sam Curran is likely to be the top retention for Punjab Kings.