Punjab Kings-Josh Inglis IPL Auction Controversy Explained

Udaipur, Dec 19, 2025: A franchise has approached the board against a cricketer before the start of the IPL. The franchise has alleged that the player increased his price by at least ₹6 crore by giving false information. The franchise is now planning to file a formal complaint with the board.

The complaint is against Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis. He played for Punjab Kings last season, and the team management was happy with his performance. Shreyas Iyer’s side had decided to retain him.

However, just 45 minutes before the retention list was announced, Inglis informed the team that he was planning to get married in 2026 and would miss a large part of the IPL season. After hearing this, the Punjab Kings management decided to release him.

Auction Twist Raises Questions Over Inglis’ Availability

However, a completely different picture emerged during the auction. There was an intense bidding war between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants for Josh Inglis. In the end, Lucknow Super Giants secured the Australian wicketkeeper-batsman for ₹8.60 crore. This means Inglis will earn at least ₹6 crore more than last season.

The high price reportedly left Ness Wadia, one of the owners of Punjab Kings, extremely upset. Expressing his frustration, he said, “Josh knew that we were planning to retain him. Even then, the way he informed us just 45 minutes before the deadline was not professional at all.”

Punjab to Question Player’s Conduct

Many in the cricketing world believe that details about how long Inglis would be available for the IPL were not clearly shared with the Punjab management. Both Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants have several Australian players in their squads, and it is believed they may have had better clarity on Inglis’ availability. This could explain why both franchises aggressively bid for him at the auction.

Reports suggest that Inglis may now reduce his wedding-related leave after receiving a large contract. This has raised a key question for Punjab Kings: why was this decision not communicated earlier? The franchise is expected to raise this issue formally and lodge a complaint with the board.