In the first game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the PCA’s New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on Tuesday, debutant Cooper Connolly scored his first half-century as the Punjab Kings overcame a formidable comeback by the Gujarat Titans to win by three wickets in 19. 1 overs, chasing a target of 163 runs.

In the second over, Kagiso Rabada dismissed Priyansh Arya, a key player for the Punjab Kings, for seven runs off eight balls, dealing the team an early blow in their pursuit of 163.

In the fourth over, opener Prabhsimran Singh responded with back-to-back sixes against Rabada. At the conclusion of the Power-play, when Punjab was at 55/1, Connolly joined the assault and hit two sixes. The pair kept making runs at will, bringing the team close to 100 with a 76-run partnership for the second wicket.

The partnership was ended in the 10th over when Rashid Khan took Prabhsimran’s wicket for a lightning-fast 37 off 24 balls. In the 13th over, Prasidh Krishna bowled out Captain Shreyas Iyer, who had maintained the pace with two sixes.

With Krishna and Washington Sundar among the wicket-takers, the Gujarat Titans responded forcefully by taking wickets quickly, dismissing Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, and Marcus Stoinis.

On his debut, Connolly kept his composure and reached his first IPL fifty in only 34 deliveries, despite the meltdown at the other end. With 5 balls to spare, he led Punjab home alongside Xavier Bartlett (11 not out), remaining undefeated with 72 runs off 44 balls, which included 5 fours and 5 sixes.

Rabada, Ashok Sharma, Rashid Khan, and Sundar all took one wicket for Gujarat, but Krishna was the best of the bunch, ending with 3-29.

The Gujarat Titans were held to 162/6 in 20 overs by the Punjab Kings, with fast bowler Vijaykumar Vyshak claiming three wickets and Yuzvendra Chahal taking two.

After being invited to bat first, the Gujarat Titans got off to a good start as Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan scored at will, bringing the score up to 35/0 in three overs. The Punjab Kings, though, got off to a strong start when Marco Jansen bowled out Sudharsan for thirteen.

Gill then joined Jos Buttler in providing stability, leading the side to 54/1 at the conclusion of the powerplay. In the 10th over, Yuzvendra Chahal took Gill’s wicket for 39 runs off 27 deliveries after he had initially played with an offensive mindset and then slowed down to anchor the innings.

Vijaykumar Vyshak brought Glenn Phillips’ attempt to pick up speed with a rapid 25 off 17 balls to an end. Chahal bowled Buttler in the 16th over for 38 runs off 33 balls, but he kept the innings together.

Washington Sundar had difficulty speaking and was eventually out at the end of the innings after scoring 18 runs on 16 deliveries.

Chahal’s two wickets were vital support as Vyshak stood out as the best bowler, ending with figures of 3-34 in four overs. Despite a strong start, the Gujarat Titans were kept in check by the Punjab Kings’ disciplined bowling performance.

Brief scores:
Gujarat Titans 162/6 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 39, Jos Buttler 38; Vijaykumar Vyshak 3-34, Yuzvendra Chahal 2-28)
Punjab Kings 165/7 in 19.1 overs (Cooper Connolly 72*, Prabhsimran Singh 37; Prasidh Krishna 3-29, Washington Sundar 1-27)