PBKS Retention List: Which 4 Players May Punjab Kings Retain Ahead of IPL 2025 Auction?

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Punjab Kings (PBKS) ended their IPL 2024 league stage campaign with their ninth defeat following a 4-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) that saw them finish in the ninth position on the points table.

Having reached the playoffs only two times in IPL history, Punjab Kings continued their dismal run of finishing outside the top four for the tenth successive season. In 17 seasons, PBKS has finished outside playoff positions 15 times.

Ahead of the 2024 IPL Auction, PBKS had retained the core of the squad and made some questionable additions at the auction, but missed several players through injury during the course of the campaign.

Plus, the poor form of some players also did not help them. While skipper Shikhar Dhawan missed most part of season, Liam Livingstone also missed a few games due to injury.

Jonny Bairstow also struggled for form earlier in the season, when two uncapped stars stepped up to take PBKS close in some matches and also past targets in few games. Bairstow returned form, but the season was almost over by then.

Sam Curran, the biggest buy of PBKS, led the side in Dhawan’s absence and did well in a few matches with both and ball. Harshal Patel and Arshdeep Singh also performed with the ball. However, PBKS will need to make the right calls before their next campaign, starting with the auction.

IPL 2025 auction will be a mega auction like in 2022, when they had retained only Mayank Agarwal and Arshdeep. Mayank, who was named captain in the 2022 edition, but was released in the very next season.

Teams are reportedly being allowed only four retentions like the previous IPL Mega Auctions. However, there are also reports that the franchise owners have requested the BCCI to allow each team up to 8 retentions.

While there is no official confirmation on how many retentions will be allowed ahead of IPL 2025 Mega Auction, it is very likely that a minimum of 4 players can be retained by each team. Plus, there could also be a Right To Match (RTM) card available for every team.

If only 4 players are allowed to be retained, then PBKS may face a huge dilemma on who to release and retain ahead of the next auction after the current group had finally found it’s feet in the 2024 season.

Which 4 players may Punjab Kings retain ahead of IPL 2025 Auction?

There are several players who PBKS would like to retain, but will be forced to release many ahead of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction which could take place before the next season anywhere between December 2024 and February 2025.

Captain Dhawan’s time at the franchise and the IPL it self might be over. So, it’s unlikely for PBKS to retain the Indian opening batter, who is out of the Indian selectors’ plans.

There is no clear picture on who could be the first pick, but if Curran has passed the retention test, there wouldn’t be any surprise if PBKS manage to retain him for a lower a few than what they splashed on the England all-rounder back in 2022.

Curran is very likely to be the first retention for PBKS. But who among the likes of Shashank Singh, Ashutosh Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Jonny Bairstow, Rahul Chahar and Liam Livingstone among others will join the stand-in skipper in retention?

Jitesh Sharma, who has been backed to captain the side, is likely to be the next pick alongside Arshdeep Singh, who is very good at all three stages of the game with the ball, will make up the three likely players who may be retained by PBKS before the next auction.

Harpreet Brar, Ashutosh and several other stars may be looked at during the auction, while many players’ time at the franchise may have ended. Meanwhile, PBKS may opt for a player who would be a challenge to buy at the auction for the remaining retention.

It will be either Prabhsimran Singh or Shashank Singh as their final retention with one not being retained among the two likely to be bought back by using the RTM. So, let's see the possible retention list of the Punjab Kings:

PBKS Retention List 2025

• Sam Curran - retained
• Arshdeep Singh - retained
• Jitesh Sharma - retained
• Shashank Singh – RTM/retained
• Prabhsimran Singh - RTM/retained