Punjab Kings paid big money for Marco Jansen in IPL 2026 and now everyone gets why. The guy’s gone from being a net bowler to scoring runs and taking wickets regularly. He’s with the Punjab Kings now after they bought him for ₹7 crores at the mega auction. That price tag tells you teams see something special in this South African.
His Numbers in the IPL
Marco Jansen started playing IPL back in 2021 for the Mumbai Indians first. Since then, he’s played 35 matches and picked up 36 wickets for different teams. His bowling average sits at 31.92 which keeps getting better each season.
In the 2025 season, Jansen grabbed 16 wickets playing 14 games. His average dropped to 27.13 that year which shows real improvement happening there. The best bowling he’s done is 3 wickets for just 17 runs in one match.
With the bat, he’s scored 141 runs so far in IPL cricket overall. His highest score is 34 not out but that number’s climbing up lately. The batting average hovers around 12.82 but watch this space because it’s changing fast.
Why Punjab Kings Want Him
Marco Jansen brings two things Punjab needs badly – fast bowling and lower-order hitting power. His height helps him get extra bounce that batsmen absolutely hate facing in IPL 2026. He bowls fuller now than before which gets him more wickets on Indian pitches.
Just look at what he did against India recently – smashed 70 runs off 39 balls. That kind of hitting wins matches when your top order fails sometimes. He even made 93 runs batting at number 9 against India in a Test last month.
People compare him to stars like Cameron Green or Hardik Pandya, but Marco Jansen holds his own. South Africa counts on him big time now in tight games where they need both bat and ball.
What IPL 2026 Holds
Punjab Kings are betting Marco Jansen will deliver big performances throughout IPL 2026 coming up. His game’s improved so much over the past year, it’s crazy to watch. From net bowler to match-winner doesn’t happen often in cricket but he’s done it.
