Summary of this article
PBKS defeated GT by three wickets in the IPL 2026 match 4
With the win, PBKS moved to the 4th spot in the points table
Cooper Connolly was named the player of the match
Punjab Kings (PBKS) started their IPL 2026 campaign with a thrilling three-wicket victory over the Gujarat Titans (GT) on March 31, 2026 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur . Playing at their home ground in New Chandigarh, the Punjab Kings won the toss and decided to bowl first.
The visiting Gujarat Titans struggled to find their rhythm against a disciplined bowling attack. Captain Shubman Gill was the top scorer for the Titans with 39 runs from 27 balls, while Jos Buttler contributed a solid 38 runs. However, the Punjab bowlers kept taking wickets at regular intervals to slow down the scoring rate.
Vijaykumar Vyshak was the star with the ball, taking three wickets for 34 runs, while veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal supported him well with two wickets. Gujarat Titans eventually finished their 20 overs with a modest total of 162/6.
The run chase for Punjab Kings began with some early pressure, but debutant Cooper Connolly turned the match in their favor. The young Australian played a magnificent innings, scoring an unbeaten 72 runs from just 44 deliveries. He shared an important partnership with Prabhsimran Singh, who made a quick 37 runs.
Despite their strong start, the match became tense when Gujarat’s Prasidh Krishna delivered a fiery spell. Krishna took three wickets for 29 runs, causing a sudden middle-order collapse that saw Punjab slip from 110/2 to 118/6.
With the game hanging in the balance, Connolly showed remarkable calmness for a debutant. He continued to find the boundaries and anchored the innings during the final overs. He was joined by Xavier Bartlett, who provided crucial support at the end. Together, they navigated the pressure of the closing overs.
With the scores level in the final over, Connolly hit a boundary to seal the win with five balls remaining. Punjab Kings reached 165/7 to secure two points in their opening game. For his match-winning performance, Cooper Connolly was named the Player of the Match. The victory gives Shreyas Iyer’s side a perfect start to the season as they aim for their first IPL title.
By winning their opening game, PBKS has entered the IPL 2026 points table at 4th place. Their Net Run Rate (NRR) of +0.509 puts them just behind Mumbai Indians. After their narrow three-wicket loss, the Titans sit at 5th place. Since the match was a close finish, their NRR is a relatively manageable -0.509, keeping them above other losing teams like KKR and SRH.
PBKS Vs GT, IPL 2026: Toss Update
Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer has won the toss and opted to bowl first against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026 match 4.
PBKS Vs GT, IPL 2026: Playing XIs
Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh(w), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer(c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Gujarat Titans: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Jos Buttler(w), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, M Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Ashok Sharma, Mohammed Siraj
Who is Cooper Connolly and how did he perform on his debut?
Cooper Connolly is a 22-year-old Australian all-rounder who made a stunning IPL debut for Punjab Kings. He was the hero of the match, scoring an unbeaten 72 runs off 44 balls.
How did Punjab Kings survive the middle-order collapse?
After a strong start, PBKS suddenly slipped from 110/2 to 118/6 due to a fierce spell by Gujarat’s Prasidh Krishna, who took three wickets. The match was saved by the composure shown by Cooper Connolly.
Who won the Player of the Match award?
Cooper Connolly was named Player of the Match for his match-winning unbeaten 72.
