In the IPL 2026 showdown against the Gujarat Titans (GT), the Punjab Kings (PBKS) triumphed with a three-wicket victory at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. After electing to bat first, Gujarat set a target of 162 runs, losing six wickets in their 20 overs. In response, Punjab successfully chased down the target, scoring 165 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 19.1 overs.
Cooper Connolly, making his debut for PBKS, played a crucial role in the victory, scoring an impressive unbeaten 72 runs off 44 balls, which included five fours and as many sixes. Reflecting on his debut experience, Connolly shared that he felt a mixture of excitement and nerves, a feeling he relished. He credited legendary Australian captain Ricky Ponting for helping him maintain his composure before the game. Connolly recounted Ponting’s advice to play confidently and take charge against the opposition.
“I woke up feeling a bit nervous, but I was excited to get out there and contribute as best as I could. Ricky kept me calm and told me to play my game and dominate. It was a solid team effort; our bowling was strong, making things easier for us. Overall, it was a fantastic day for the team,” Connolly stated on JioHotstar.
He also expressed his enthusiasm about playing alongside Shreyas Iyer, whom he described as a “world-class player.” Connolly mentioned his eagerness to learn from Iyer, having previously played with him for Australia A and the national team. “I was looking forward to sharing the field with Shreyas and soaking in his insights. He’s a remarkable player for a reason, and I hope to learn as much as possible from him,” Connolly added.
Notably, Connolly’s debut performance positioned him as the fifth-highest individual scorer on an IPL debut.
The Punjab Kings are set to face off against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on April 3 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
**IPL 2026, Punjab Kings: Complete Squad**
Marcus Stoinis, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shashank Singh, Praveen Dubey, Lockie Ferguson, Shreyas Iyer, Ben Dwarshuis, Vishnu Vinod (WK), Xavier Bartlett, Yash Thakur, Azmatullah Omarzai, Vyshak Vijay Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Marco Jansen, Nehal Wadhera, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Harpreet Brar, Priyansh Arya, Suryansh Shedge, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Pyla Avinash, Harnoor Singh, Musheer Khan, Vishal Nishad.