Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has named his probable playing XII for Punjab Kings (PBKS) ahead of the start of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. In his probable XI, Pathan continues to open with Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh following their contribution last time around, where they guided PBKS to only their second IPL find.

The 41-year-old went on to pick Australia’s Mitchell Owen in his side as he awaits playing in his first full season in the IPL. The 24-year-old rose to prominence during the 2024-25 Big Bash League, where he scored 452 runs at a strike rate of 203.60 for eventual champions Hobart Hurricanes.

Pathan slots him at number three but suggests he could alter his position with captain Shreyas Iyer based on the situation in hand.

“At number three and four, you can rotate Mitchell Owen and Shreyas Iyer. You decide who to send against fast bowling and who to send against spin. Depending on the pitch and the strategy of the opposing team, you can make these changes,” Irfan said in a video on his YouTube channel.

Pathan also spoke highly of PBKSlower-order batter Shashank Singh whilst putting him at number seven in his probable XI and giving him the finisher’s role.

He scored 350 runs in 2025 at an average of 50 and strike rate of 153.50 and has established himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet for Punjab.

“The way Shashank has been batting over the past period, and especially his performance last year, he played a crucial role and contributed significantly to Punjab’s success. Of course, we talk about the players scoring 500-600 runs, like Prabhsimran, Shreyas Iyer, or Priyansh Arya," the 41-year-old added.

"But the runs Shashank scored, around 350, were just as crucial because he came in different situations and positions where confidence was key.

Many times, you may fail while attempting big shots, but Shashank’s confidence drives him forward. If he performs similarly this season, we could see him play big cricket in the future," the former PBKS all-rounder concluded.

PBKS open their 2026 IPL campaign on Tuesday, March 31, with a home game against Gujarat Titans at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium in New Chandigarh. 

Irfan Pathan’s probable XII for PBKS

Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper), Mitchell Owen, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson / Ben Dwarshuis.

Impact Player: Yuzvendra Chahal