Ricky Ponting Reveals Why Punjab Kings Released Glenn Maxwell Before IPL 2026

Punjab Kings have released Glenn Maxwell ahead of the IPL 2026 season. The Australian all rounder was among six players let go after a poor 2025 campaign.

Maxwell made only 48 runs in six innings last season. His strike rate was under 100, which made it hard for PBKS to back him for another year. This was disappointing for fans because he had returned to the team in 2025 after four years with RCB.

His best memories with PBKS still come from 2014 when he smashed at a strike rate of 187 and helped the team reach the IPL final. That season made him a fan favourite in Punjab. But the comeback did not work the same way in 2025.

Head coach Ricky Ponting said the decision was about team balance.

“Love Glenn and what he brings to the game. Unfortunately, last year, we weren’t able to get the best out of him. Looking ahead, we didn’t feel he would be part of our starting team. So we decided to release him,” Ponting said.

PBKS now holds a purse of 11.5 crore and has four open slots for the December mini auction. The team is expected to look for a power hitter and possibly an overseas all rounder to fill the gap.

Other players released include Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, Kuldeep Sen and Praveen Dubey. All of them struggled for game time or impact in the 2025 season.

The move signals a fresh push from PBKS to rebuild their middle order. The management is keen on forming a stable core for the next few years. Fans will now wait to see who the team targets in the auction and how they plan to reshape their batting lineup.