New Delhi, April 1 – Debutant Cooper Connolly described his match-winning performance for Punjab Kings as a special moment after leading his team to a three-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in their IPL 2026 opener in New Chandigarh on Tuesday, and said it was an "honor" to represent the same franchise as his idol, Shaun Marsh.
Connolly, who scored an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls, remained calm during the tense chase of 163 after Punjab suffered a collapse in the middle order. Having shared a 76-run partnership with Prabhsimran Singh (37), the Australian all-rounder anchored the innings even as wickets fell in clusters, eventually guiding his team to victory with five balls to spare.
Reflecting on his debut and the opportunity to represent Punjab, Connolly said it carried personal significance. "Shaun Marsh played for the Punjab Kings, and I grew up watching him. It's an honor to play for the same franchise as him, and I'm looking forward to the next game and to playing as a team," he said in a video shared by IPL, adding that getting off to a winning start made the experience even more memorable.
"It's always nice to get the first win for the team, but I'm really excited to spend some time out there and start the season off with a win for Punjab, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the tournament," he added.
The 22-year-old also spoke about the magnitude of the IPL stage, having been picked up at the auction earlier this year. "You want to be a part of the biggest competitions in the world, and IPL is certainly one of them. It was just nice to get picked up during the auction and come in here with an open mind, trying to learn, and just trying to get better," he noted.
Punjab's chase had appeared straightforward at 97/1 before Prasidh Krishna triggered a collapse, dismissing key batsmen including Shreyas Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, and Marcus Stoinis. However, Connolly remained composed, reaching his maiden IPL fifty in just 34 balls and finishing the chase alongside Xavier Bartlett.
Looking ahead, Connolly acknowledged the challenges of a tightly contested tournament. "It's tough. It's always going to be challenging. There are so many great teams, and everyone there has the ability to win, so it's going to be close margins to win this tournament," he said.
Earlier, Gujarat Titans posted 162/6, with Shubman Gill (39) and Jos Buttler (38) leading the scoring, while Vijaykumar Vyshak (3/34) starred with the ball for Punjab.