Josh Inglis has stunned the IPL world by announcing he can play only four matches, raising early concerns that Josh Inglis might go unsold this season. It’s an unexpected twist for a player Punjab valued highly last year, especially since PBKS released Josh Inglis despite his strong 2025 contribution. And now, with so much uncertainty around Josh Inglis in IPL 2026 auction, fans and franchises are asking the same question: is he still worth the gamble?

Why PBKS Released Inglis Despite an Impressive IPL 2025 Season?

Now that you know the availability issue, let’s revisit the bigger story — the one that explains why PBKS released Josh Inglis even though he delivered the kind of impact every franchise dreams of. In IPL 2025, Inglis scored 278 runs in 11 games at a strike rate of 162.57, including a stunning 73 against the Mumbai Indians and that unforgettable moment when he smashed 20 runs off one Jasprit Bumrah over in Qualifier 2. He even contributed with a crucial 39 off 23 in the final, proving he thrives under pressure. Thanks to performances like these, nobody expected Josh Inglis to go unsold a year later.

Pressure? What pressure? 😏

🎥 Josh Inglis fights fire with fire and takes on Jasprit Bumrah with handsome hits! 💪#PBKS 64/2 after 6 overs.

Updates ▶ https://t.co/vIzPVlDqoC#TATAIPL | #PBKSvMI | #Qualifier2 | #TheLastMile | @PunjabKingsIPL pic.twitter.com/c4Wp2hXcQx

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 1, 2025

But then came the twist. Inglis told Punjab that his wedding dates would clash with IPL 2026, and he would be available for only four matches. This changed everything. Even Ricky Ponting reportedly wanted to retain him, but practically, that wasn’t possible. A franchise can’t build around a player who appears only for phase one of the campaign, which is why PBKS released Inglis on retention deadline day. And this is where the risk factor for Josh Inglis in IPL 2026 auction truly begins because a limited-availability superstar is still a limited-availability player.

Why Inglis Might Go Unsold?

Let’s talk money, auction strategy, and the business logic behind why Josh Inglis might go unsold even though he had an excellent season. Inglis enters the pool at a ₹2 crore base price, which is perfectly normal for a full-season overseas keeper-batter. But not for someone who gives you only four matches. Franchises would be paying premium money for a player who contributes for just 25% of the season. That means they’d need a second overseas keeper for the remaining 10 matches, doubling roster pressure.

🚨 🚨

Ahead of #IPLAuction, Josh Inglis has notified the franchises via the BCCI that he can play no more than four games in #IPL2026.

He’s listed at a ₹2 crore base price. pic.twitter.com/6bCLrXnoCB

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) December 4, 2025

In auctions where every slot is precious, this is a nightmare scenario, especially when Josh Inglis in the IPL 2026 auction competes against full-season players like Klaasen, Salt, de Kock, and Stubbs. There’s another angle too. The auction is huge this year — 1,355 players in the pool, salary caps stretched, and many teams entering with limited purse. When franchises have multiple holes to fill, splurging on four-match availability is almost impossible.

🚨 𝑹𝑬𝑷𝑶𝑹𝑻𝑺 🚨

Josh Inglis has reportedly informed franchises through the BCCI that he’ll be available for only four games in IPL 2026. 🏏🏆

He enters the auction with a base price of ₹2 crore. 💰#IPL2026 #Cricket #JoshInglis pic.twitter.com/5u8dWPWkDS

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) December 4, 2025

Even teams with big budgets avoid such moves unless they specifically need a short-term injury replacement. That’s why Inglis might go unsold, not because he lacks talent, but because his price-to-availability ratio doesn’t make sense this year. And don’t forget this: Teams already know why PBKS released Inglis. If Punjab — the franchise that built around him last season — couldn’t take the chance, others may hesitate even more.

Conclusion

Josh Inglis remains a gifted, high-impact wicketkeeper-batter, but the harsh truth is that his availability announcement has positioned him as one of the biggest question marks in the Josh Inglis in IPL 2026 auction storyline. The fact that PBKS released Josh Inglis despite his 2025 heroics shows how availability can outweigh performance in high-stakes team planning. And if franchises feel the math doesn’t add up, then yes — Josh Inglis might go unsold, not because he isn’t good enough, but because consistency across the season matters more than isolated brilliance.