Mullanpur: Cooper Connolly announced his arrival in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in style, scoring a composed 72* on debut to guide Punjab Kings (PBKS) to a thrilling three-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans (GT) in their IPL 2026 opener.
The young left-hander played a match-winning knock under pressure, combining maturity with calculated aggression as PBKS chased down a target of 163 with five balls to spare.
Chahal, Vyshak restrict Gujarat Titans
After being asked to bat first, Gujarat Titans posted 162/6 in their allotted 20 overs, with Shubman Gill (39 off 27 balls) and Jos Buttler (38 off 33 balls) leading the scoring.
GT started aggressively, racing to 35 in just three overs, with Gill looking in sublime touch. However, PBKS pulled things back through disciplined bowling and timely breakthroughs.
Left-arm pacer Marco Jansen provided the first breakthrough by dismissing Sai Sudharsan, while experienced spinner Yuzvendra Chahal once again proved his value in the middle overs. Chahal, who has an impressive record against Gill, dismissed the GT skipper to halt the momentum.
Chahal finished with figures of 2/28, using variations in pace and flight to keep the batters guessing. He was well supported by pacer Vijaykumar Vyshak, who picked up 3/34, ensuring GT were restricted to a manageable total.
Connolly anchors tense chase
Punjab Kings had a shaky start to their chase, losing Priyansh Arya early to Kagiso Rabada. However, Connolly and Prabhsimran Singh steadied the innings with a crucial 76-run partnership for the second wicket.
Prabhsimran contributed a brisk 37 off 24 balls, taking the attack to the opposition and ensuring the required run rate remained under control.
Connolly, on the other hand, played the anchor role to perfection. He paced his innings intelligently, rotating strike and capitalising on loose deliveries. His knock included five sixes and five boundaries, reflecting his ability to shift gears when required.
Late collapse adds drama
Just when PBKS appeared to be cruising, a dramatic collapse threatened to derail their chase. A brilliant spell from Prasidh Krishna (3/29) triggered a flurry of wickets.
Key batters, including Shreyas Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis, fell in quick succession, bringing Gujarat Titans back into contention.
Spinner Washington Sundar also chipped in with a crucial wicket, tightening the screws on PBKS during the middle overs.
Despite the pressure, Connolly remained calm and composed, guiding the lower order and ensuring there were no further hiccups in the chase.
Key moments in Gujarat Titans’ innings
GT’s innings showed promise early on but lacked the finishing punch. After Gill’s dismissal, the momentum slowed despite contributions from Buttler and a brief cameo from Glenn Phillips.
Chahal’s clever variations, combined with disciplined bowling from PBKS, ensured that GT could not accelerate in the death overs. The lack of a big partnership ultimately cost them a higher total.
Conclusion
Punjab Kings will take immense confidence from this hard-fought victory, especially with a new talent like Cooper Connolly stepping up in his very first IPL appearance. His match-winning knock not only sealed the win but also highlighted his potential as a key player for the franchise this season.
With strong contributions from both bowlers and batters, PBKS have made a promising start to IPL 2026. If they continue to perform with the same balance and composure, they could emerge as strong contenders in the tournament.
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