Cooper Connolly made an immediate impact on his IPL debut for Punjab Kings, showcasing his composure and power in a crucial run chase against Gujarat Titans in Mullanpur. Batting at No. 3, the 22-year-old all-rounder looked in complete control, racing to 47 off just 30 balls by the end of the 13th over while chasing a target of 163.

Signed for ₹3 crore in the IPL 2026 auction, Connolly displayed his aggressive intent with a mix of clean hitting and smart strike rotation. His innings included two boundaries and four towering sixes, with one standout moment coming against Rashid Khan. Connolly launched a stunning 103-metre six straight down the ground, leaving the world-class spinner visibly stunned — a reaction that quickly went viral across social media.

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Connolly also stitched together a crucial 76-run partnership with Prabhsimran Singh, who contributed a brisk 37 off 24 balls. Prabhsimran continued his impressive form from last season, striking four sixes, including two consecutive hits off Kagiso Rabada, to keep Punjab’s chase on track.

𝟏𝟎𝟑 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐒 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐡𝐞𝐦 🤯

Cooper Connolly rocks back, frees the arms and sends it soaring into the second tier 🚀#TATAIPL 2026 | #PBKSvGT | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/8O2J6XJtcm pic.twitter.com/jXyDDu3Ohs

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 31, 2026

While PBKS dominated with the bat, it was a contrasting outing earlier for Arshdeep Singh, who registered an unwanted record. Tasked with bowling the final over of Gujarat’s innings, the left-arm pacer delivered an 11-ball over, conceding four wides and a no-ball before completing his quota.

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Arshdeep joined a list that includes Mohammed Siraj, Tushar Deshpande, Shardul Thakur, Sandeep Sharma and Hardik Pandya — all of whom have bowled 11-ball overs in IPL history.

Despite that hiccup, Punjab Kings found themselves in a strong position in the chase, largely thanks to Connolly’s fearless debut knock.