In a high-octane season opener for both teams, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) secured a hard-fought three-wicket victory over the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. Despite a mid-innings collapse that threatened to derail their chase, a composed performance from young Australian Cooper Connolly ensured the Kings started their 2026 campaign with two points.
First Innings: Titans Set a Competitive Total
After losing the toss and being asked to bat, Gujarat Titans’ openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan started confidently, echoing their strong partnerships from previous seasons. However, the momentum shifted when:
- Early Breakthrough: Marco Jansen dismissed Sudharsan in the fourth over.
- Middle-Order Grind: Captain Shubman Gill (46-run stand with Jos Buttler) and Buttler himself looked to anchor the innings, but Yuzvendra Chahal broke the partnership by removing Gill.
- PBKS Death Bowling: The Kings’ bowlers, led by Vyshak Vijaykumar (who dismissed Glenn Phillips) and Chahal, executed their plans perfectly in the final overs, restricting GT to 162/6.
Second Innings: The Chase of Two Halves
The Punjab Kings’ chase began with early jitters as Priyansh Arya fell cheaply to Kagiso Rabada. What followed was a rollercoaster of momentum:
- The Aggressive Surge: Prabhsimran Singh and Cooper Connolly took the attack to the Titans, playing fearless cricket that seemed to put the result beyond doubt.
- The Rashid Khan Factor: Just as PBKS looked to cruise, Rashid Khan removed Prabhsimran, giving GT a glimmer of hope.
- The Great Collapse: The Titans’ bowlers, led by Impact Substitute Prasidh Krishna, triggered a sensational collapse. PBKS lost four wickets for just eight runs, tumbling from a comfortable position to the brink of defeat.
- Connolly’s Heroics: Amidst the chaos, Cooper Connolly remained “the last man standing” for the Kings. He absorbed the pressure, regained the momentum in the penultimate overs, and stayed until the end to guide his team home with five balls to spare.
Match Summary: PBKS vs GT
| Category | Details |
| GT Score | 162/6 (20 Overs) |
| PBKS Score | 163/7 (19.1 Overs) |
| Result | Punjab Kings won by 3 wickets |
| Key Performers | Cooper Connolly (PBKS), Rashid Khan (GT), Yuzvendra Chahal (PBKS) |
| Venue | New Chandigarh |
Playing XIs
Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Vyshak Vijaykumar.
Gujarat Titans: B Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Ashok Sharma, Mohammed Siraj.