Aakash Chopra opens up on Punjab Kings players with opportunities in IPL 2026

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra reckons IPL 2026 will provide a great opportunity to Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer. Chopra reckons if Iyer can lead PBKS to their maiden title in the upcoming season, he will be a hot contender to lead India in T20Is.

In 2025, Iyer led Punjab Kings to the final of the season but they could not cross the last hurdle against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Iyer scored 604 runs in 17 matches of IPL 2025 at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 175.07 while leading the Punjab Kings and thus led from the front.

“A new winner in a new season, what can be a bigger opportunity than that? This franchise made a lot of new fans last year, or else you can say they made their fans vocal. The team that reaches the final deserves respect. Go a step further, and the fan base that has become vocal now, give it a chance to celebrate more,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“Shreyas Iyer, I felt he would come in the T20 World Cup team, but he couldn’t. I envisage that a place might become vacant in the middle order. So, can Shreyas Iyer come there? If he presents a captaincy claim once again, he could possibly be the next T20 captain for India. Why not?” he added.

On the other hand, PBKS’ Yuzvendra Chahal is also out of the Indian team and Chopra reckons the leg-spinner’s story is not over yet.

“Yuzi Chahal, I do feel his story shouldn’t end now. The Indian team should keep the thought process of considering him again. He is that kind of a bowler. So one more opportunity for him. Yuzi has nothing to prove, but it’s an opportunity,” he said.

Chopra believes uncapped players like Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Nehal Wadhera, and Shashank Singh will have a great opportunity in IPL 2026.

“Then our young kids, the uncapped Indians, all of them have an opportunity. Shashank Singh as a finisher, Nehal Wadehra as a middle-order batter, Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh,” Chopra observed.

Punjab Kings will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against the Gujarat Titans at Mullanpur on 31st March.