Mullanpur, March 31 Young left-handed batsman Cooper Connolly marked his IPL debut with a decisive 72 off 44 balls after Yuzvendra Chahal's impressive bowling performance, helping Punjab Kings defeat Gujarat Titans by three wickets here on Tuesday.
After PBKS opted to field first, leg-spinner Chahal (2/28 in 4 overs) used his experience to restrict GT in the middle overs and limit them to 162/6.
Seam bowler Vijaykumar Vyshak took 3/34 for PBKS.
After almost losing their way with the bat due to Prasidh Krishna's (3/29 in 4 overs) excellent bowling, PBKS successfully chased down the target of 163 with one ball to spare. Connolly and Prabhsimran Singh (37 off 24 balls) laid the foundation for the win with a 76-run partnership for the second wicket.
Earlier, captain Shubman Gill (39 off 27 balls) and Jos Buttler (38 off 33 balls) were the main contributors for GT in a lackluster batting display.
PBKS's start was not good as Kagiso Rabada squeezed Priyansh Arya for room with his pace and line, dismissing the opener after debutant fast bowler Ashok Sharma made a good catch at midwicket.
Connolly and Prabhsimran then played well, executing their task professionally to keep their team ahead, with the two hitting several fours and sixes to restrict the GT bowlers.
Rashid Khan gave GT hope with the dismissal of Prabhsimran, who failed to clear Prasidh Krishna at long-on.
Shreyas Iyer hit Ashok Kumar's short balls over deep square-leg for two sixes, but shortly after taking a solid shot off his partner Connolly, the PBKS captain flicked a Prasidh Krishna half-volley to Washington Sundar at deep mid-wicket.
Sundar dismissed Nehal Wadhera, and Krishna dismissed Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis in quick succession, bringing GT back into the game.
However, Connolly was there to see PBKS win, hitting five sixes and as many fours during his innings.
Earlier, sent into bat, Gill smashed boundaries as the team raced to 35 in three overs.
Gill looked in good form as he picked the gaps at will to score at a good clip, forcing PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer to make a bowling change and introduce the tall Marco Jansen (1/20 in 4 overs) into the attack.
The move paid off immediately as left-arm pacer Jansen got Sai Sudharsan (13) to slice one straight to mid-off, where Shreyas completed a simple catch.
Sudharsan appeared to be attempting to loft the ball over mid-on, giving PBKS a much-needed breakthrough in the fourth over.
This brought Jos Buttler to the crease, and the Englishman, coming off a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign, got off to a fine start, caressing Vyshak Vijaykumar through cover for a boundary, giving the batter a lot of confidence.
Buttler employed the cut shot against a short and wide Jansen delivery to get a four through backward point, and then struck the first six when he lofted Vyshak straight down the ground, as the seamer failed to land his attempted slower ball in the right area.
GT ended the powerplay at 54 for one, with PBKS having pulled things back a bit after leaking plenty in the first three overs.
Chahal came on in the eighth over, and the leg-spinner, who has a good record against Gill, having dismissed the opener three times in previous IPL matches, got his man again as the batter holed out to deep midwicket after setting him up for a big score.
Chahal bowled one slower ball, and while Gill got the elevation, he did not get enough distance to clear the rope.
New man Glenn Phillips smashed Chahal over long-on for a maximum, and then, Buttler smoked a short Xavier Bartlett ball over mid-on for a six.
PBKS then pulled things back.