PBKS vs GT

With that, we would like to wrap up our live coverage for this fixture. Do tune in again for the upcoming IPL 2026 clash due to take place between LSG and DC tomorrow at EKANA. For now, this is the pair of Datrim Ray and Bidipto Datta signing off tonight. Cheers!

Cooper Connolly (Player of the Match, 72 off 44): "Didn't think like that. Just wanted to get the experience of working with world-class players. Yeah, I think I just needed a refresh. I was at home and spent time with family. That was the time I changed. It allowed me to reset. (What were his preparations like before the game) Slightly different for me. I am more of a tempo player. It's all about getting the hands moving. Working with Ricky was great. He is always there to help me fine-tune things (His thoughts on the mini-collapse). We didn't speak much, to be honest. Marcco was calm; so was Xavier. We had the game under control, so we were not packing. (About facing Rashid) It was the first time I was facing him and had a good time against him. Really looking forward to the rest of the tournament."

Shreyas Iyer (Punjab Kings captain): "(On how his hand is now) It's nice, it's the same as before! I don't want to jinx anything! (On Cooper Connolly's batting) Some of the shots that he played were surreal to watch! That back-foot six off Rashid (Khan), one of the best bowlers on the IPL, simply brilliant! (On the stutter with the bat in the middle overs) These things happen, wickets do fall. But, Cooper has a great mindset. I have seen him do something similar for Australia too. (On the plans with the ball) After the 3rd over we realized that the wicket was a bit slow. Arshdeep (Singh) came up and told us that. So, bowling into the wicket and slower ones helped. (On Vyshak Vijaykumar's bowling) Vyshak is carrying forward the form from the final last season. It is phenomenal to seem him coming into a big match and delivering! (On whether he was surprised to see a short-leg in place when he came out to bat) I was surprised to see a short-leg when I came out, just told Shubman (Gill) that! But, it good to see captains attacking!" 

Xavier Bartlett: "Yeah, a bit of luck, I suppose. I tried to set myself up. Lucky enough, it came off. (Thoughts about the catch) Yeah, obviously fielding is a very crucial aspect of the game. I have been working hard on my fielding. Grew up playing football, so we're used to it. Great to get a win in front of the home crowd. Nice coming out here for the first game of the tournament. We wanted to start strong, and its a great feeling to get off the mark so early in the competition."

Shubman Gill (Gujarat Titans captain): "(The summation of what happened) We bowled pretty well, but, didn't get going in the last 5 overs. With the bat, with the start we had, we needed close to 200. Losing wickets through the middle cost us quite a few in the last 4 or 5 overs. (On how it was like to play when the ball got older) Once the ball got old, it got difficult to hit. When we were bowling, with the rain coming down, it didn't quite stop as much. But, our bowling was still decent. (On whether Prasidh Krishna could be brought on earlier) I could have, but, he came in and did a job for us. There will always be ifs and buts, but when he came on, he hit he deck hard and got us wickets. (On Ashok Sharma) He is someone who works very hard. He is a pretty good fielder. I met him in the camp, and he looked impressive! He is good with the new ball too! (On the message for the team) We will keep getting better, I'm sure!" 

11:23 PM local time and IST: PBKS register their first win of IPL 2026 with a narrow 3-wicket win.     

Shubman Gill - 39 (27) | Rashid Khan - 1/29
Cooper Connolly - 72 (44) | Vijaykumar Vyshak - 3/34

TOUGH FIGHT FROM GT BUT PBKS PREVAIL IN A TENSE THRILLER AT NEW CHANDIGARH! The game ebbed and flowed, but Connolly maintained his composure all the way through to get PBKS over the line in his maiden IPL outing. Rabada and Siraj gave GT an ideal start, sending PBKS’ impact player, Priyansha Arya, packing cheaply for 7. But that momentary joy wasn’t meant to last too long for GT. Prabhsimran took the matter into his own hands and went after the GT bowling to drag PBKS out of a very tricky situation. Connolly didn’t take too long to jump into the act. Both Connolly and Prabhsimran batted sensibly and got the most out of the powerplay to help PBKS finish with a commanding 57/1 following a difficult start. As the PBKS innings unraveled, the duo settled into a solid 76-run stand, which put the home side firmly ahead of the asking rate.

Prambhsimran was a treat to watch tonight. He batted with a lot of confidence and kept clearing the boundary at will, concluding his innings with a quick-fire 37 (24). Connolly started off tentatively but did well to make up for the slow start. The young Aussie went on to register a fine outing, scripting his maiden IPL half-century (72 off 44) in his very first outing for PBKS. Shreyas, the PBKS captain, played a fine hand, notching a rapid 18 (11) before succumbing to an on-field injury and eventually getting removed by Prasidh. But his dismissal triggered an unfortunate collapse for PBKS, which saw the demise of Nehal, Shashank, and Stoinis in quick succession. Prasidh (3/24) went on a role, but Connolly displayed a good presence of mind under pressure to ensure no further hiccups for PBKS. He joined hands with Jansen to deliver the final nail in the coffin for GT with 5 balls to spare. 

19.1 Washington Sundar to Cooper Connolly, round the wicket, AND THAT WILL DO IT! COOPER CONNOLLY FINISHES IT OFF WITH A FOUR! PUNJAB KINGS WIN THEIR FIRST! Into the pitch on off-and-middle. Connolly stays beside the line of it, stands tall and bunts it well to the gap between cover and point. Deep cover point tries to reach it to his left, but, the ball is just too quick for him! 

Just 2 needed now and Connolly has all the time in the world to knock off these many runs. What an innings under pressure, but PBKS can't rest yet as Sundar gets one final go with the ball tonight. 

18.6 Prasidh Krishna to Cooper Connolly, pitched right up on the middle-and-leg line. Nudged down to long-on from deep in the crease, for a single to keep strike. 

18.5 Prasidh Krishna to Xavier Bartlett, short and around off-stump. Bartlett drags it around off the back foot, to the wide long-on region, for a single only! 

18.4 Prasidh Krishna to Cooper Connolly, low full toss on off-stump. Connolly pats it to the left of cover point from the crease and settles for one. 

18.3 Prasidh Krishna to Cooper Connolly, FOUR RUNS! Short and slow, over leg-stump. Connolly swivels on the back foot and pulls it. The ball goes just over the right of short fine and runs away to the boundary.

18.2 Prasidh Krishna to Xavier Bartlett, pitched up on the fourth-stump line outside off. Stroked slightly on the up to the right of cover. A fumble there gives the batters a single! 

18.1 Prasidh Krishna to Xavier Bartlett, SMASHED FOR SIX! Back of a length on off-stump and just outside. Bartlett hung back and slapped it to the area wide of deep mid-wicket, for a maximum!