Punjab Kings survived a dramatic middle-order collapse to chase down 163 against Gujarat Titans in New Chandigarh, with Cooper Connolly producing a match-winning unbeaten 72 on debut.
Punjab Kings opened their IPL 2026 campaign with a tense three-wicket win over Gujarat Titans, reaching 165 for 7 in 19.1 overs after restricting GT to 162 for 6 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. Cooper Connolly was named Player of the Match after steering Punjab home with an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls in his first IPL appearance.
Earlier, Gujarat Titans were kept in check despite a promising start. Shubman Gill top-scored with 39 off 27 balls, while Jos Buttler made 38 off 33 and Glenn Phillips added 25. Punjab’s bowlers controlled the key phases of the innings, with Vijaykumar Vyshak returning 3 for 34 and Yuzvendra Chahal taking 2 for 28 as GT finished with what looked like a competitive, but not overwhelming, total.
Punjab’s chase moved smoothly at first. Prabhsimran Singh made 37 off 24, and together with Connolly helped the hosts to 83 for 2. The game then turned sharply when Gujarat hit back through Prasidh Krishna, whose burst reduced Punjab from 110 for 2 to 118 for 6. Krishna finished with 3 for 29 and suddenly tilted the contest back in Gujarat’s favour.
Source: ESPNcricinfo
That should have been the moment Punjab lost control. Instead, Connolly held his nerve. Reuters reported that the Australian all-rounder, coming into the tournament after a lean run with Australia, played with a refreshed mindset and produced the innings that settled Punjab’s nerves. He struck five fours and five sixes, while partnerships with Marco Jansen and Xavier Bartlett pulled Punjab out of trouble and over the line.
For Gujarat Titans, it was a defeat that will sting because they had forced the collapse that could have sealed the game. For Punjab Kings, it was the kind of win that can shape a season early — scrappy at times, nervy in the middle, but finished by a debutant who looked ready for the moment.
