The IPL 2026 mini-auction is just around the corner, with the UAE gearing up to host this exciting event on December 16. A whopping 359 players will be up for grabs, and teams are eagerly scouting for the right talent to fill gaps in their rosters. In this piece, we’ll shine a spotlight on the Punjab Kings, who finished as the runners-up in IPL 2025. While they have a solid squad, they’re facing a challenge with their pace attack. Arshdeep Singh is a promising bowler, but he’s in need of more support from his teammates. With 11.50 crores in their budget, the Kings are definitely looking to snag some quality pacers during the auction. So, let’s explore five bowlers that PBKS could target in the IPL 2026 mini-auction. Mustafizur Rahman Mustafizur Rahman is a name that resonates with cricket fans, as he has truly been Bangladesh's standout seamer over the last ten years. This left-arm bowler has a unique knack for making an impact at any stage of the game. Whether it's starting off strong, holding the fort in the middle overs, or delivering those nail-biting final overs, he knows how to shine. In IPL 2025, Rahman played for the Delhi Capitals as a replacement, and there's a good chance they might pursue him again for IPL 2026. On the other hand, Punjab could also set their sights on him, which would give them a powerful duo of left-arm seamers to enhance their bowling lineup. Auqib Nabi Right now, the player everyone’s buzzing about is Auqib Nabi. This right-arm seamer from Jammu and Kashmir is turning heads with his outstanding performances in domestic cricket, really raising the bar for J&K cricket. So far in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season, he’s bagged 29 wickets, and in just seven matches of the SMAT 2025-26, he’s taken 15 wickets with an impressive average of 13.00. Also Read | Explained: BCCI’s Salary Cap Rule Restricting Overseas Players’ IPL Earnings in 2026 Matheesha Pathirana Matheesha Pathirana is definitely a hot commodity among several franchises. Although CSK let him go because he didn’t quite live up to his hefty price tag, they’re still eyeing the 22-year-old during the mini-auction. What makes teams so keen on Matheesha Pathirana is his knack for taking wickets in the final overs. This right-arm seamer has a talent for bowling yorkers and mixing up his pace, allowing him to make game-changing plays when it matters most. Last season, Pathirana took 13 wickets, but his economy rate of 10.14 put a damper on both his performance and CSK’s overall campaign. Lately, though, he’s been struggling a bit with his form. Jacob Duffy The 31-year-old is yet to make his mark in the lucrative league, but he's absolutely shining in the shortest format of the game. He’s been registered at a base price of 2 crores. Interestingly, Duffy is leading the charts in 2025 with an impressive 35 wickets in just 20 innings among full-member nations. This makes him a hot prospect for franchises, and RCB should definitely consider targeting the Kiwi. He could be a steal and wouldn’t even put a dent in RCB's budget.