Cooper Connolly’s scintillating half-century powered Punjab Kings to a nail-biting three-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in the opening clash of the IPL 2026 season at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh.



Led by skipper Shreyas Iyer, Punjab Kings chased down a target of 163 with five balls to spare, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. The match drew several prominent figures, including Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, and team co-owner Preity Zinta, who was seen passionately cheering for her side.



The standout performer of the night was young star Cooper Connolly, whose match-winning knock turned the game on its head. Connolly smashed 72 runs off 44 balls, laced with five sixes and five boundaries, anchoring Punjab’s chase brilliantly. He was well-supported by Prabhsimran Singh, who provided early momentum with a quickfire 37 off 24 deliveries. Despite a few stumbles in the middle overs, Punjab Kings reached 165/7 in 19.1 overs to seal the win.








Earlier, after opting to field, Punjab Kings put up a disciplined bowling performance to restrict Gujarat Titans to 162/6 in 20 overs. The Titans’ batting unit struggled to accelerate on a tricky surface, while Punjab’s bowlers maintained tight control throughout the innings.



The stadium buzzed with energy as fans turned out in huge numbers to witness stars like Shubman Gill and Arshdeep Singh in action.



In the end, it was Connolly’s brilliance that made the difference, giving Punjab Kings a winning start and delighting the home supporters as the team kicked off its IPL 2026 campaign in style.