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3 Players From TNPL 2025 Who Could Help Punjab Kings (PBKS) Win Their Maiden IPL Title
Follow UsHere, we look at three TNPL players whom PBKS can target in the IPL 2026 mini auction
Punjab Kings (PBKS) were one win away from winning their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title in 2025. Shreyas Iyer and his men finished the league stage at the top of the points table but lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the grand finale.
PBKS will retain most of their players ahead of the next season, but there are a couple of gaps in their line-up they would like to fill during the IPL 2026 auction.
The Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) is one of the top state leagues in the country, and PBKS could easily fulfill their requirements by targeting certain players who have done well in TNPL 2025, which is set to end on July 6 (Sunday).
Here, we look at three TNPL players whom PBKS can target in the IPL 2026 mini-auction.
Sonu Yadav
PBKS didn’t get much from their fast-bowling all-rounders - Azmatullah Omarzai and Suryansh Shedge - and would be out on the lookout for more options in the next auction. Sonu Yadav, who was part of the RCB set-up in 2023, had an outstanding TNPL 2025 for Nellai Royal Kings.
The right-arm seamer claimed 16 wickets in seven games at an average of 12.8 and an economy rate of 8. On top of that, the middle-order batter also scored 133 runs across six innings at an average of 33.25 and a strike rate of 133. PBKS could easily play Yadav ahead of Omarzai and use that overseas spot for somebody else.
Tushar Raheja
The young Indian opening duo of Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya set the IPL 2025 on fire, but no one can guarantee they will be able to keep the same form going next season. Therefore, PBKS would want to keep a backup ready, and Tushar Raheja could prove to be a good option.
The left-handed wicketkeeper-batter is the leading run-scorer in TNPL 2025, having smashed 411 runs at an average of 58.71 and a stunning strike rate of 189.4. A left-handed batter, a wicketkeeper, and someone who could score at a rapid rate - Raheja could fit into any IPL set-up.
Esakkimuthu A
Playing his first season of TNPL, Esakkimuthu A has been super impressive for IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, especially in the middle overs. The right-arm seamer has claimed 12 wickets, with 11 of those coming in the middle overs at an economy of 6.5. PBKS had the fourth-worst economy rate in the middle overs in IPL 2025 and Esakkimuthu could prove to be a valuable pick.