IPL 2025: 5 PBKS players who were benched for majority of the season despite huge salaries

After topping the IPL 2025 league stage and making it to the final for only the second time, Punjab Kings had an incredible IPL 2025 campaign. With a balanced team and steady results in every department, PBKS at last realized its long-held promise.

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 A few high-priced players were either underutilized or hardly employed during the season, despite the impressive performance. A number of expensive names were benched for the majority of the tournament, which sparked discussion about their positions, whether because of established combinations, form, or tactical preferences.

Here are the 5 PBKS players who were benched for the majority of the season despite huge salaries:

1. Glenn Maxwell

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Glenn Maxwell, who was paid INR 4.2 crore, played in just 7 games for PBKS, collecting four wickets and scoring 48 runs at an average of 8.00 with a strike rate below 100.

 Maxwell's miserable season was cut short by a finger fracture, but even prior to the injury, his poor form and low returns made it difficult for him to put together performances. In a season that concluded with their first IPL final, PBKS eventually went on without him, leaving his high cost and reputation unrecouped.

2. Azmatullah Omarzai

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Azmatullah Omarzai of Afghanistan, who was signed by PBKS for INR 2.40 Cr in the 2025 Indian Premier League, played in nine games and showed his dynamic all-around ability. He failed to reproduce his explosive domestic form, and his limited trips produced only moderate rewards. In his all-around performance, he scored 57 runs and claimed 8 wickets.

Due to the limited abroad quota and intense competition, PBKS relied on alternative foreign bowling and batting options. Omarzai missed most of the season due to his limited effectiveness and selection issues.

3. Harpreet Brar

In the IPL 2025 mega auction, PBKS paid INR 1.5 crore for Harpreet Brar. The left-arm spinner was mostly employed as a backup, but he played eight games and claimed ten wickets at an economy rate of 8.63. He spent time on the bench and was employed as an impact substitute rather than the first-choice spinner.

He was unable to establish himself as the primary spin option, even with the bowling returns. He rarely made the starting lineup due to matchups and planned rotation, which made a valuable domestic berth a supporting one for the majority of the competition.

4. Vishnu Vinod

Due to the presence of top-order batsmen like Josh Inglis and Prabhsimran Singh, as well as in-form keepers, wicketkeeper-batter Vishnu Vinod, who was purchased by PBKS for INR 95 lakhs, saw every game while sitting on the bench.

He was pushed to the sidelines by PBKS's established batting lineup and penchant for aggressive finishers. He was kept on the roster as a depth option, although he didn't contribute much during the season.

5. Aaron Hardie

Aaron Hardie was purchased by PBKS for INR 1.50 Crs with the hope that he would be a finisher or all-rounder, but they were unable to give him enough playing time to establish his value. He found it difficult to establish himself in a lineup with depth.

Players with recent influence were chosen by PBKS since international spots were in high demand. Week after week, Hardie was ignored due to his poor form and lack of playing time, making his price tag a tactical burden rather than an asset.

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