Former cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has suggested that the Punjab Kings (PBKS) could consider releasing Glenn Maxwell ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, with the retention deadline set for November 15. Maxwell endured a disastrous IPL 2025 campaign, scoring just 48 runs in six innings before a fractured finger ruled him out of the season, leading to fellow Australian Mitchell Owen replacing him.
Speaking in a YouTube video released on Friday, November 14, Chopra stated that he would be fine if PBKS release Maxwell and keep Owen, while further adding that the IPL 2025 runners-up are unlikely to release many players. He said, “Glen Maxwell can be released because he was at 4.2 crore. In his place, Mitchell Owen had come in at a 3 crore price cap, so you already have money available. If you release Maxwell and keep Mitchell Owen, I will not begrudge it at all. Besides that, I’m thinking who else will be released? Vishnu Vinod? Because he is worth around 1 crore, precisely ₹95 lakh.”
“The rest, nothing. You can’t leave too many people. So I don’t think there’s much in this team. Aaron Hardie, ₹1.25 crore, they didn’t play him. If they want, they can release him. Azmatullah, I won’t release. I won’t even think about anyone else. Xavier Bartlett had come for only 80 lakh. I don’t think there’s any player they would want to release easily. So that’s it,” he added.
Under Shreyas Iyer’s leadership, Punjab Kings reached only their second IPL final in the 2025 season, where they eventually lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
In the same video, Aakash Chopra also discussed the Gujarat Titans (GT), noting that the franchise is unlikely to make many releases. He mentioned that the team might consider letting go of players like Ishant Sharma, Kumar Kushagra, or Jayant Yadav, but will retain most of their core group. He said, “Now they need someone in the middle order. Let’s assume they need that, unless, of course, you know David Miller is going to come, then maybe make space for him. So release Karim Janat to make room for David Miller. You will still keep Shahrukh Khan with you, Mahipal Lomror with you, Rahul Tewatia with you. You’re not going to change too much. I don’t expect Gujarat to make many changes. And there’s no reason to release Rahul Tewatia.”
“Whatever happens with CSK, maybe Washi will come, that was a rumor, let it remain a rumor, because I don’t think it will actually happen. In fast bowling, sometimes you might think about releasing Arshad Khan, but he does enough work, and he’s only 1.3 crore, so you can keep him. If you want to release Ishant Sharma, of course, you can release him. That’s one option. There’s also talk about Kagiso Rabada, but Rabada is expensive, agreed. But who else, like Kagiso Rabada will come in the auction? And if you try to buy him back, it might still cost that much. So from that perspective, you might as well keep him,” he added.
Chopra continued, “So if you want to release someone, maybe Kumar Kushagra at 65 lakh, or Jayant Yadav at 75 lakh, Mahipal Lomror at 1.7 crore, you can try that. But I don’t think this team is going to have many movers and shakers. Gujarat Titans are also unlikely to make many moves, so I don’t think they will release too many players. Mostly, the team will retain their core players.”
In the IPL 2025 edition, Shubman Gill’s Gujarat Titans were knocked out of the tournament after a defeat to the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Eliminator.
Overall, Aakash Chopra predicts minimal changes for the Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. The teams are expected to retain their core players and make strategic decisions to strengthen their squads for the upcoming season.
