Punjab Kings all-rounder Cooper Connolly produced a moment of brilliance in the field to dismiss Tristan Stubbs during the IPL 2026 clash against Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala on Monday. The sharp, direct hit came at a crucial stage of the match and halted what was turning into a promising recovery for Delhi Capitals.
Chasing a daunting 211-run target, Delhi endured a disastrous start after losing early wickets inside the powerplay. KL Rahul and other top-order batters failed to settle as Punjab Kings bowlers maintained relentless pressure with the new ball.
However, DC skipper Axar Patel and Tristan Stubbs attempted to stabilise the innings with a valuable partnership for the fourth wicket. While Axar looked positive, Stubbs struggled to find rhythm and survived an earlier scare after being dropped by Arshdeep Singh off debutant pacer Ben Dwarshuis.
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The missed opportunity did not prove costly for the Punjab Kings. In the very next over from Dwarshuis, a massive misunderstanding between Axar and Stubbs resulted in chaos on the pitch.
𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙤𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧 hitting the bullseye! 🎯
🎥 A pin-point direct hit catches Tristan Stubbs way short of his crease 🔥
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— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 11, 2026
Connolly reacted brilliantly after collecting the ball quickly inside the circle. Spotting Stubbs stranded halfway down the pitch, the Australian all-rounder fired in a direct hit at the striker’s end to complete an excellent run-out under pressure.
The dismissal ended a developing 40-run stand that had briefly shifted momentum back towards Delhi Capitals. Although Stubbs never looked fully comfortable at the crease, his presence alongside Axar had started to frustrate the Punjab Kings attack.
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The wicket once again highlighted Punjab Kings’ improved intensity in the field after recent criticism over dropped catches and sloppy performances during their three-match losing streak in IPL 2026. Earlier in the match, Punjab Kings posted a commanding 210/5 after strong contributions from captain Shreyas Iyer, Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly, putting Delhi Capitals under scoreboard pressure right from the start.
