Indian middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer, who is currently out of action from international cricket due to a spleen injury, is likely to feature at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction. The bidding event scheduled to take place on December 16 will see the Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain’s presence in Abu Dhabi.
As per the reports provided by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), PBKS has named Iyer in place of the team’s head coach, Ricky Ponting, in the list for the forthcoming auction.
While franchise owners are busy with their preparation strategy ahead of the auction, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) witnessed a massive drop in brand value.
Why Shreyas Iyer is Attending the IPL 2026 Auction?
With December 10 (Wednesday) being the last date for franchises to submit the names of representatives attending the auction, it was understood that the PBKS coach, Ricky Ponting, was unlikely to travel to Abu Dhabi.
Ponting is currently partnered with Seven Network in Australia for the ongoing Ashes commentary. With the third test match commencing on December 17 (Wednesday) in Adelaide, the former Australian skipper’s expected absence has prompted the inclusion of the team skipper, Shreyas Iyer, as the attendee.
Also, PBKS, with a purse of INR 11.5 crore, face limited transactions to conduct the auction, as they can acquire a maximum of four players, which includes the option to sign two overseas players.
Even though Iyer will be accompanied by the core members of the PBKS franchise, Ponting’s support and absence will certainly be felt.
PBKS Minimal Role to Play in IPL 2026 Auction
As PBKS retained the maximum set of key players, they won’t have any role to play in the intense bidding war, having the option to fill only four slots out of an INR 11.5 crore purse. Additionally, releasing Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell enabled the franchise to allocate its budget more effectively in search of a strong overseas middle-order batter.
Is Iyer the Right Choice to Lead PBKS Delegation in IPL 2026 Auction?
Having signed a deal worth INR 26.75 crore in last year’s mega auction, Shreyas Iyer’s composed leadership skills make him the apt choice to lead the PBKS delegation in Ricky Ponting’s absence.
Also, the Kings seemed to be the top contenders to clinch their maiden IPL title before losing to RCB in the previous edition’s final.
As per the rule introduced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), a team can allow upto eight representatives inside the mini-auction hall.
So, Iyer’s presence will be extremely crucial for Punjab to wisely make use of the small funds to secure the services of the top-class players. The right-handed batter’s on-field tactics and experience promise to bring the required balance in making accurate decisions under pressure at the auction table.
PBKS’ move is reminiscent of other franchises’ strategy, where they involve their captain or head coach to build a strong squad. The best examples in the past include Gautam Gambhir as Kolkata Knight Riders head coach and Rishabh Pant as Delhi Capitals skipper.
A Shocking Dip in RCB’s Brand Value
Despite RCB winning its first-ever IPL title after 18 years, its brand value of $105 million (which is approximately INR 94 crore) saw a 10% decline compared to the 2024 season.
Gujarat Titans were the only team to see a surge in brand value, that too by a mere margin of 2%.
According to Ajimon Francis, Brand Finance India’s managing director, the stampede incident in Bengaluru was another core reason behind the Royal Challengers’ brand value:
“See! The valuation is inclusive of all factors that determine the future of the team. It’s not just because of the stampede, but also the team management’s reaction aftermath of the incident, that drew negative sentiment among fans.
Even though the sponsor’s interest might be strong, it remains to be seen if they avoid the team in the upcoming days due to ethical reasons and government laws,” Francis said
Final Opinion
One of the main reasons behind the diminished brand value of the league was due to the strained cross-border and political tensions between India and Pakistan in May 2025. Ahead of the playoffs, the league was halted midway for a week, and overseas players flew back home.
Overall, IPL’s brand value witnesses a massive drop from ₹1,07,867 crore in 2024 to INR 86,291 crore in 2025 before witnessing to INR 21,576 crore ahead of the forthcoming 2026.
Fortunately, PBKS brand value reduced only upto 3% as they surged from ninth position with holding upto an overall valuation of $66 million.