3 reasons why PBKS should release Yuzvendra Chahal ahead of IPL 2026

Yuzvendra Chahal was one of the key instruments behind Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) run to the final of IPL 2025. The experienced spinner picked up wickets at crucial times to shift the momentum of the matches. But still, the management has multiple reasons to release Chahal before the IPL 2026 mini auction. 

For these 3 reasons PBKS should consider getting rid of Yuzvendra Chahal:

Economy Rate: Without any doubts, IPL 2025 was a memorable season for PBKS. But can we say the same for Chahal, keeping an eye on his stats he produced on that campaign? He played 14 matches and 13 innings and had a 9.55 economy rate with his name, which is far away from his best. In IPL 2024, when he was with Rajasthan Royals, the economy rate was 9.41. During his career’s prime, the leggy spinner’s economy rate used to be slightly above 7, and for the last two seasons, it was above 9, which is very expensive from a bowler’s perspective. 

Wicket-Taking Ability: Chahal’s comeback in IPL 2025 was remarkable. After battling with personal issues, making a statement through on-field performance was not an easy task. In 14 IPL 2025 games, the spinner claimed 16 wickets. Most of the wickets he got after the initial few matches. With a best bowling figure of 4/28, Chahal created the hype but may be unable to touch his best. With a high economy rate and inconsistent performance, Chahal was sometimes vulnerable in front of opponents.

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 Reliability: There are no doubts over his ability, but the matter is about reliability. There are multiple occasions when PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer did not utilize the experienced spinner for a full 4-over quota. The tendency to leak too many runs and inconsistent performance raised questions about reliability as a regular bowler. He was like an unpredictable bowler, who can win a match for the team or can unexpectedly flop. 

Chahal's IPL 2025 bowling stats: