3 Punjab Kings Players Who Need To Silence Their Critics In IPL 2025

3 Punjab Kings players with a point to prove [Source: @punjabkingsipl/Instagram]

Few teams have experienced the sheer turbulence of the IPL quite like Punjab Kings. Perennial underachievers, they have wavered between moments of promise and seasons of mediocrity, never quite translating their potential into sustained success.

While simply making it to the top four in a season is a cause for celebration, no Punjab Kings team has reached the knockouts since their runners-up finish of 2014. Frequent overhauls, inconsistent performances, and a revolving door of leadership have only added to their woes, leaving them without a title despite nearly two decades of pursuit.

As IPL 2025 approaches, the franchise finds itself at yet another crossroads, with certain individuals carrying the weight of expectations heavier than most. With a new captain at the helm, a past IPL winner no less, and a near revamped coaching staff, here’s a look at three Punjab Kings players eager to make a point in the upcoming season.

3. Yuzvendra Chahal

As Yuzvendra Chahal continues to navigate his repeated national exclusions and a recent divorce, the leg-spinner secured a place in the Punjab Kings lineup for the IPL 2025 season. After Rajasthan Royals ended his three-year stint ahead of the mega auction in November, the PBKS management snapped him up for a staggering ₹18 crore, the highest he has ever earned in a single IPL season.

With a price tag that hefty, Chahal will undoubtedly be eager to justify his place in a near-revamped PBKS squad. Moreover, at 34, the wily leg-spinner is inching toward a phase in his career where a strong IPL showing could be his best chance to stake a claim for an international comeback.

Once a regular part of India’s white-ball setups, Yuzvendra Chahal played the last of his 152 internationals for Team India back in August 2023. While he was part of the team that lifted the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies, the cricketer did not receive a single crack in the playing XI.

---

ALSO READ

[Watch] Yuzvendra Chahal Turns Professor; Entertains With New Role Ahead Of IPL 2025

---

2. Glenn Maxwell

Punjab Kings shelled out ₹4.20 crore to re-acquire Glenn Maxwell for his third separate IPL stint with the franchise. Previously released by PBKS in both 2017 and 2020 due to form concerns, Maxwell endured his worst IPL season last year, managing just 52 runs for RCB. Despite averaging an abominable 5.77 with the bat, Punjab Kings rekindled its past faith in the Australian all-rounder, hoping that he can rediscover his explosive form and provide the firepower their middle order desperately needs.

From Glenn Maxwell’s perspective, IPL 2025 presents an opportunity for redemption. A seasoned campaigner with a reputation for game-changing performances, he will be eager to reaffirm his value as a genuine T20 match-winner. Beyond his explosive batting, Maxwell’s off-spin and athletic fielding add further dimensions to his role, making him a potential key figure in PBKS’ IPL prospects this year.

1. Shreyas Iyer

In late 2024, Shreyas Iyer became the first IPL-winning captain in history to be released by his franchise ahead of the following season, as KKR opted not to retain him before the IPL 2025 mega auction. On the day of the bidding event, Iyer etched his name in history once again, securing a staggering ₹26.75 crore deal with Punjab Kings to mark one of the most lucrative contracts in IPL lore.

Already out of contention from India’s Test and T20I reckoning, the stylish right-hander reaffirmed his status as a modern-day ODI giant at the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, where his four successive match-winning knocks spearheaded India’s triumphant campaign. With his T20I future still uncertain, a commanding IPL season could be his best opportunity to reignite national selectors’ interest and reestablish himself in India’s white-ball plans.

---

ALSO READ

PBKS's Schedule For IPL 2025

---