Summary of this article
Punjab Kings beat Gujarat Titans by 3 wickets in IPL 2026 match number 4
Cooper Connolly scored a fantastic half-century
He became the first batter this season to win the player of the match award
The Punjab Kings secured a 3-wicket victory over the Gujarat Titans at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium in match number 4 of the Indian Premier League 2026 season.
Chasing a modest target of 163, PBKS relied on a sensational debut performance from Australian all-rounder Cooper Connolly to overcome a late-innings collapse and seal the win with five balls to spare.
Earlier, PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer elected to field, a decision justified by a disciplined bowling effort.
Despite a steady start from Shubman Gill (39) and Jos Buttler (38), the Titans struggled to find their rhythm in the middle overs.
Yuzvendra Chahal (2/28) was clinical as he got Gill for the fourth time in IPL history, while Vijaykumar Vyshak emerged as the disruptor with figures of 3/34, restricting Gujarat to 162/6.
The chase began shakily with the early loss of Priyansh Arya, but Connolly and Prabhsimran Singh (37) steadied the ship with a 76-run stand.
However, Prasidh Krishna (3/29) triggered a collapse, reduced Punjab from 110/2 to 118/6.
With the game on a knife-edge, Connolly remained ice-cool, hammering an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls. His composure in the final overs ensured Punjab opened their account for the season in spectacular fashion.
Cooper Connolly Adjudged Man Of The Match
Australian youngster Cooper Connolly announced himself on the IPL stage with a fantastic debut for Punjab Kings.
Walking in when the game was on an edge after a middle-order collapse, Connolly hammered an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls to steer his side to a three-wicket win.
He anchored the chase while hitting boundaries with precision. He also became the first batsman this season to win the player of the match award.
What was the result of the RR vs CSK, IPL 2026 match?
Punjab Kings defeated Gujarat Titans by 3 wickets. GT scored 162, which PBKS chased down in 19.1 overs.
Who won the Player of the Match award in PBKS Vs GT, IPL 2026?
The Player of the Match (POTM) award went to Cooper Connolly, who scored a fantastic 72* off just 44.
Who will feature in IPL 2026 match number 5?
The Lucknow Super Giants will take on the Delhi Capitals in match number 5 of the Indian Premier League 2026 season.
