New Delhi, April 1 – After dazzling with a match-winning 72 on his IPL debut, helping Punjab Kings win by three wickets against Gujarat Titans, all-rounder Cooper Connolly said head coach Ricky Ponting’s guidance helped him stay calm and focused, which in turn helped him manage the nerves he felt in the morning before the match.
Connolly scored an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls, and held his nerve while chasing a target of 163 after PBKS suffered a middle-order collapse. “I woke up in the morning with some nerves, but I was really excited to get out there and contribute as best I could.
“Ricky Ponting kept me calm and focused. He told me to play my game and dominate. It was a great team performance. We were strong with the ball and made things easier for ourselves. It was a really good day for us.
“I was looking forward to spending time with Shreyas Iyer and learning from him. He’s a world-class player. I’ve played a bit of cricket with him for Australia A and Australia. He’s a great player for a reason, and hopefully, I can learn as much as I can,” Connolly said on JioHotstar.
Connolly’s successful debut for PBKS mirrored the debut of his childhood hero, Shaun Marsh. Both began their IPL journeys with PBKS, scored half-centuries in their first appearances, and contributed to successful run chases. Both remained unbeaten, leading their teams to victory, and were named Player of the Match.
In emulating Marsh, Connolly made a strong impression on the IPL stage. “It was a great feeling when I was selected. Shaun Marsh was the first person I spoke to about it, and he gave me some good advice. I played with him for a long period of time at Western Australia, and he has always been good to me.
“I looked up to him as a mentor and an idol, and I really enjoyed spending time with him. It’s great to be scoring runs. There are still many games to go, and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the tournament,” he added.