Punjab Kings secured a thrilling three-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in Mullanpur, with Cooper Connolly playing a standout innings of 72 not out in his debut match during the IPL 2026 opener. The young Australian’s composed knock proved pivotal as Punjab Kings successfully chased down 163 runs despite facing a challenging situation with wickets falling in quick succession.
In a trend seen throughout IPL 2026, the team winning the toss and opting to chase prevailed once again, making it four wins out of four. Despite a late scare that saw Gujarat Titans gaining momentum, Connolly’s calm and steady performance ensured Punjab Kings emerged victorious in a closely contested match, marking the first nail-biter of the season.
The match began with Kagiso Rabada dismissing Priyansh Arya early on, but Punjab Kings recovered as Connolly and Prabhsimran Singh built a crucial partnership. Connolly’s aggressive strokeplay, including hitting seven sixes in just eight overs, kept Punjab Kings in the game despite losing wickets at regular intervals.
However, a collapse ensued with the team losing key batsmen and struggling to maintain momentum. With 16 runs needed off the final two overs, Connolly’s aggressive hitting, supported by valuable contributions from the lower order, propelled Punjab Kings to victory in a tense finish.
In the first innings, Yuzvendra Chahal and Vijaykumar Vyshak shone for Punjab Kings, restricting Gujarat Titans to 162 for 6. Despite decent contributions from skipper Gill and Jos Buttler, Gujarat struggled to break free as Punjab Kings tightened their grip in the middle overs.
Overall, Punjab Kings’ resilient performance, led by Connolly’s heroics with the bat and impressive bowling displays, set the tone for an exhilarating start to their IPL 2026 campaign.