All-rounder Cooper Connolly, for a long time, has tried to emulate the batting style of his Western Australian senior, Shaun Marsh.
And there are similarities — both elegant left-handed batters with matching stances and near-identical, smooth cover drives. It was exactly what Shaun’s younger brother, Mitch Marsh, felt after he spotted Connolly in the Perth nets for the first time.
“Straightaway, I thought that he looked like my brother in his stance. His cover drive has a lot of Shaun in it. He’s a bit more free-flowing with,” Marsh said in an interview with Cricket Australia.
It can be seen as a twist of destiny that Connolly will get his first taste of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Punjab Kings (formerly known as Kings XI Punjab), the same side with which Shaun began his IPL journey in 2008.
Shaun was the leading run-scorer of the 2008 season with 616 runs – a feat which catapulted him into global fame and earned him a spot in the Australian national team.
Shaun Marsh celebrates scoring a century in IPL 2008 in Mohali. He ended that season with the Orange Cap (highest run-scorer).
| Photo Credit:
Akhilesh Kumar
Shaun Marsh celebrates scoring a century in IPL 2008 in Mohali. He ended that season with the Orange Cap (highest run-scorer).
| Photo Credit:
Akhilesh Kumar
Connolly, picked by PBKS for Rs. 3 crore at the IPL 2026 Auction, will once again trace Shaun’s footsteps before his first IPL stint.
“I’m sure over the next couple of months, I’ll speak to Shaun about his time over at Punjab and how he enjoyed it, and I guess what worked for him,” Connolly said during a media interaction on Monday.
“He’s created a legacy all over the world because he’s a world-class player. I still speak to him occasionally. He is a hell of a player. I think if anyone has half of his career, you’ve done well,” he added.
Unlike Shaun, who received his first Aussie cap only after his first IPL campaign, Connolly heads into the premier T20 tournament having already represented Australia.
In just five months, starting from September 2024, Connolly debuted for Australia in all three formats. Recently, he starred for the side in its ODI series win against India, scoring a match-winning fifty in a tricky chase in the second game in Adelaide.
“Everything’s happened fast over the last three years. It’s been pretty surreal. I’ve sort of had a couple of moments recently where I’ve just looked back at what’s happened over the last three years. It’s obviously an honour to represent your country in all three formats. But I’m still 22. There’s still a lot of cricket for me to be played,” Connolly said.
Cooper Connolly scored an unbeaten 61 against India in the second ODI, helping Australia to a two-wicket win in Adelaide.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Cooper Connolly scored an unbeaten 61 against India in the second ODI, helping Australia to a two-wicket win in Adelaide.
| Photo Credit:
AP
The Aussie all-rounder is currently in action in the Big Bash League and has scored back-to-back fifties for Perth Scorchers.
Though Connolly bats at No.3 for the Scorchers, PBKS has zeroed in on the 22-year-old as a finisher, as explained by team captain Shreyas Iyer.
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“Honestly, he wasn’t there in our mind at the start, but as we brainstormed and narrowed down our options, we realised he would fit the position perfectly. He has a great temperament and the ability to finish games. Those characteristics matter a lot in IPL,” said Shreyas after the auction.
Connolly suggested that he is up for the challenge. “I’ve batted in all positions for my Big Bash – in the middle and number three. And if I get that opportunity to finish the innings, (I will) prepare for that as best as I can and look to perform my role.”
“I model my game on being able to be versatile in any position. So, whether that’s at three, whether that’s in the middle, I’m happy to perform any role. If the role in the IPL is different, that’s totally understandable because it’s a world-class team,” he added.
Cooper Connolly is currently in action in the Big Bash League and has scored back-to-back fifties for Perth Scorchers.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
Cooper Connolly is currently in action in the Big Bash League and has scored back-to-back fifties for Perth Scorchers.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
Adding to Connolly’s value is his handy left-arm spin – he has taken 13 wickets from 37 T20 games at a steady economy of 7.65. He termed his bowling abilities as ‘still developing’, adding that he hopes to work on them even more during the IPL.
“Yeah, I think I’m still developing my game with the ball. And I feel like it’s starting to slowly become a threat. It’ll be nice to learn from some guys there (PBKS). I’m watching how some guys go about it. It’s something I’ve been working on hard.”
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Of the many things Connolly is looking forward to in the IPL, the most prominent is the prospect of working with PBKS coach and Aussie legend Ricky Ponting.
“Yeah, I’m looking forward to getting stuck in with Ricky. I’ve heard a lot of good things about him. I haven’t done a lot of work with him just yet.
“So I’m looking forward to spending some time with him and sort of doing some tweaks to my batting and seeing what his thoughts are on it,” Connolly added.
Published on Dec 22, 2025
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