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The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026<\/strong><\/a> has officially ignited. In a pulsating encounter at the Mullanpur Stadium in New Chandigarh, the Punjab Kings (PBKS)<\/strong> secured a thrilling three-wicket victory over the Gujarat Titans (GT)<\/strong> on Tuesday. In what was only the fourth match of the season, fans were treated to a down to the wire classic that saw momentum swing like a pendulum before 21-year-old Australian sensation Cooper Connolly<\/strong> announced his arrival on the world stage with a match-winning masterclass.<\/p>\n Winning the toss and opting to bowl under the lights of New Chandigarh, Shreyas Iyer<\/strong>\u2019s Punjab Kings showcased a masterclass in defensive bowling during the middle overs. The Gujarat Titans\u2019 innings was a tale of promising starts that failed to explode into a massive total. Shubman Gill<\/strong> looked in exquisite touch, anchoring the top order with a classy 39 off 27 balls, laced with 4-fours and a six. Alongside him, the ever-dangerous Jos Buttler<\/strong> played a measured knock of 38 off 33 balls.<\/p>\n However, the PBKS spin duo turned the tide. Yuzvendra Chahal<\/strong> was the architect of the squeeze, removing both Gill and Buttler to finish with figures of 2\/28. As the Titans looked to accelerate, Vijaykumar Vyshak<\/strong> emerged as the unlikely hero at the death. Vyshak\u2019s triple strike, removing Glenn Phillips<\/strong> (25), Washington Sundar<\/strong> (18), and Shahrukh Khan<\/strong> (4) derailed the GT finish. Despite a late cameo from Rahul Tewatia<\/strong>, GT reached 162\/6 in their 20 overs. It was a competitive score, but on a pristine New Chandigarh surface, the Kings knew they had a fight on their hands.<\/p>\n The chase began with a stutter as Priyansh Arya<\/strong> fell early to Kagiso Rabada<\/strong>, but the stadium soon erupted as Cooper Connolly<\/strong> took center stage. Promoted up the order, Connolly played an innings of maturity far beyond his years. While wickets tumbled around him\u2014including a middle-order collapse triggered by Prasidh Krishna <\/strong><\/a>(3\/29) that saw Marcus Stoinis<\/strong> and Shashank Singh<\/strong> fall for ducks but Connolly remained the calm eye of the storm.<\/p>\n PBKS found themselves in a precarious position at 118\/6, still needing 45 runs with the tail exposed. Connolly, however, shifted gears effortlessly. He reached his half-century off just 34 balls, punishing anything short and using his feet beautifully against the spin of Rashid Khan.<\/strong> His unbeaten 72 off 44 balls, featuring 9 fours and 5 massive sixes, kept the asking rate under control.<\/p>\n The drama peaked in the final overs. With Marco Jansen<\/strong> falling for 9, the pressure was on Connolly and Xavier Bartlett<\/strong>. Needing 13 off the final two overs, Connolly showed ice-cold composure. He dismantled the GT attack with surgical precision, guiding PBKS to 165\/7 with five balls to spare. The victory was sealed in the 20th over, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and marking PBKS\u2019s first statement win of the 2026 campaign.<\/p>\n Also\u00a0WATCH: Xavier Bartlett plucks a screamer to remove steady Jos Buttler in PBKS vs GT game<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 22-year-old Australian has played a fantastic knock to take his team home \ud83d\udc4f\ud83d\udd25#cricket<\/a> #PBKSvsGT<\/a> #ipl2026<\/a> #CricketTwitter<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/1BZNeS7UbC<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 34 BALL FIFTY BY COOPER CONNOLLY. <\/p>\n A splendid innings by the debutant! pic.twitter.com\/1AWDgfeL3x<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 PHENOMENAL_1 (@RajSadde2) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n #PBKSvGT<\/a> One in only Cooper Connolly \u2705 \u2014 Shubham Rajput (@rajputshubham59) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \ud83d\udea8AUSTRALIAN PLAYERS TO SCORE FIFTY ON IPL DEBUT\ud83d\udea8<\/p>\n Michael Hussey \u2013 CSK \u2014 Akash (@klrvikash) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Well Played Cooper Connolly \ud83d\udc4f#PBKS<\/a> #CSK<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/Pq5Ipx7QHh<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/CJaQkx3CwE<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 PLV Arun (@Arunstunner) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The game was gone, but Cooper Connolly pulled it back ,what an incredible batting performance from the 22-year-old young talent. <\/p>\n Great start by Punjab Kings as they registered a win against Gujarat Titans in their first match \u2764\ufe0f\ud83d\udd25pic.twitter.com\/ytpuUtZcMe<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Eshwar (@ej_memezz__) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Usually BIG-Bash performers don\u2019t perform well in IPL\u2026. But I think We got our Superstar for this season in COOPER Connolly\u2026. pic.twitter.com\/NU9Tho0uA6<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jagseer Singh Sandhu (@sandhujagseer07) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Cooper Connolly giving KXIP Shaun Marsh vibes. Lucky if he maintains this consistency.<\/p>\n \u2014 Vayu (@GEAR_UPv18) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Cooper Connolly smashing it out of the park once again.<\/p>\n PBKS nailed the pick \u2620\ufe0f<\/p>\n That\u2019s still true \ud83e\udd37<\/p>\n pic.twitter.com\/sBbYk5WrfX<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/EooIb2HqGp<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Kashif (@KashifNdmCric) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n FIFTY FOR COOPER CONNOLLY ON HIS IPL DEBUT FROM JUST 34 BALLS!!\ud83d\udd25 pic.twitter.com\/ofaQi3hWET<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Fatima (@Fatima7223) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Steve smith’s fan boy cooper connolly reviving old IPL vibes \ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\ude4c\ud83c\udffb pic.twitter.com\/EvOnzrt47C<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Akbar Tennyson (@akbertweets) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Also READ:\u00a0Here\u2019s why PBKS\u2019 Cooper Connolly won\u2019t bowl against Gujarat Titans in today\u2019s match<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nGT posts a formidable total against determined PBKS bowling<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Cooper Connolly powers PBKS to a dramatic win over GT in IPL 2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Here\u2019s how fans reacted:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Cooper Connolly Punjab Kings \u0915\u093e \u0905\u0902\u0917\u0926 \u092c\u0928 \u0917\u092f\u093e.#TATAIPL<\/a> | #KhelBindaas<\/a> | | @PunjabKingsIPL<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ISaa65o6gd<\/a><\/p>\n\n
Shaun Marsh \u2013 PBKS
James Hopes \u2013 PBKS
David Warner \u2013 DC
Jake Fraser \u2013 McGurk \u2013 DC
Cooper Connolly \u2013 PBKS \u2026.. See more pic.twitter.com\/rPkmCV756I<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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