Why is Preity Zinta Not in IPL auction 2026?

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini auction has returned, keeping the fans hooked to their seats. The start of the auction was quite dramatic, with most of the players from the first set going unsold. The franchise owners have played smart today by going after the players that they need in their squads.

Amidst the chaos and drama, Punjab Kings' co-owner Preity Zinta remained missing from the auction. She has attended almost all the auctions, and hence, the fans remain curious regarding her absence.

Why is Preity Zinta Not in IPL 2026 Auction?

Punjab Kings' co-owner Preity Zinta has been an active member in the IPL, attending auctions and games in almost all the seasons. However, in this ongoing mini auction, Preity was not spotted at the PBKS table, increasing the curiosity of all the viewers. Preity or PBKS management hasn't shared the reason behind her absence yet on social media or any other platforms. The fans will have to wait for an official confirmation to know the real reason behind her absence.

Meanwhile, PBKS has stayed silent in the auction so far, not raising their paddles for any player yet. They have ₹11.50 crores left in their purse with four slots to fill, including two foreign players. They have a lot of money, and that's why they have remained silent so far. PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer, who is recovering from an injury, has attended the auction, making it even more exciting for the fans. The franchise has retained some of the best players, in the likes as Iyer, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shashank Singh, and others who have proven their worth in the previous seasons. As far as the mini auction is concerned, PBKS will be looking to bring in some talented bowlers who can complement Arshdeep during the tournament.

Preity Zinta's Previous Stints in IPL Auctions

PBKS co-owner Preity Zinta has made appearances in several IPL auctions throughout the previous seasons. There have been many powerful seasons at the auction table where Preity has done exceptionally well regarding picking up the best players. If we look at the 2018 season, she, along with the other management, made some solid bids. They went for Chris Gayle, Yuvraj Singh, KL Rahul, and Karun Nair, who proved to be quite successful in the season. They also used the RTM card to bring David Miller back into the team. Though the Punjab Kings are the most unsuccessful team in IPL, but Preity has been actively engaged in the auction, which turned out to be a dramatic bidding session for PBKS back in 2018.

But, buying Shashank Singh in 2024 at a base price of ₹20 lakhs was one of the best steal deal for PBKS since he was incredible throughout the season. Preity has also been active in attending matches. She has supported the players, cheered for them, been disappointed after the defeats, but overall, has been the backbone of the team. The fans have loved her energy during matches and wish to watch her in the upcoming seasons as well.