ben dwarshuis made his IPL debut for Punjab Kings against Delhi Capitals on Monday, May 11, 2026, at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala. The left-arm fast-medium bowler was named in the playing XI after Punjab Kings signed him for ₹4.40 crore in the IPL 2026 mini auction.
Shreyas Iyer Names Dwarshuis
Shreyas Iyer revealed the selection at the toss, with Delhi Capitals having won and chosen to bowl first. That put Dwarshuis into the match from the start, giving Punjab Kings their most expensive auction buy his first chance in the league.
Dwarshuis arrived with a strong T20 record. He has played 15 T20 Internationals for Australia, taking 22 wickets at an average of 24.36, and his wider white-ball résumé includes 188 T20 matches, 236 wickets, a 23.22 average and an economy rate of 8.33.
Punjab Kings Spend Big
The auction price made him Punjab Kings' most expensive acquisition, so his debut was tied directly to the way they valued his T20 skill set. Born on June 23, 1994, in Kareela, New South Wales, he brought experience from the Big Bash League, Vitality Blast, Pakistan Super League and The Hundred into a match Punjab Kings wanted to control early.
That selection also showed where the franchise chose to use its overseas bowling option in a game carrying important IPL 2026 points. For Punjab Kings, the immediate next step is simple: Dwarshuis is now in the XI, and his role will be judged by how quickly he turns that auction outlay into overs, wickets and control.
