Punjab Kings batter Cooper Connolly continued his outstanding IPL 2026 form with a sensational six against Delhi Capitals pacer Mitchell Starc during their clash at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Monday. The massive hit came in the 15th over of the innings when Starc delivered a back-of-a-length ball outside off stump.
Connolly stood tall, timed the ball perfectly and launched it 96 metres over long-off in what became one of the biggest sixes of the match. It was also the third maximum conceded by Starc during the innings as Punjab Kings batters continued to attack the Australian quick aggressively.
The left-handed all-rounder has emerged as one of PBKS’ most valuable performers this season. Connolly entered the match in red-hot form after smashing an unbeaten 107 off 59 deliveries against Sunrisers Hyderabad in his previous outing.
WATCH – Priyansh Arya Smashes Mitchell Starc For Stunning First-Ball Six in IPL 2026
The 22-year-old Australian has now established himself as a major force in IPL 2026, scoring 377 runs in nine innings at a remarkable strike rate of 171.36. His campaign already includes one century and two half-centuries, justifying the INR 3 crore investment Punjab Kings made during the IPL 2026 auction.
That’s outta here 🚀#CooperConnolly launches a massive six as #PBKS eye a daunting total.#TATAIPL Race To Playoffs 2026 ➡️ #PBKSvDC | LIVE NOW 👉https://t.co/YVNnKW1GmV pic.twitter.com/OQopjfNLaK
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 11, 2026
Punjab Kings also received crucial contributions from captain Shreyas Iyer and explosive opener Priyansh Arya. Arya produced another aggressive innings, smashing 56 runs off 33 balls with six sixes and two boundaries to provide PBKS with a flying start.
ALSO READ: Harbhajan Singh Questions MI’s Confidence After IPL 2026 Playoff Exit
At the time of writing, Punjab Kings were strongly placed at 180/2 after 17.3 overs, with Shreyas unbeaten on 51 off 33 deliveries and Connolly batting fluently on 38 off 26 balls. Mukesh Kumar and Madhav Tiwari picked up one wicket each for Delhi Capitals.
Both teams entered the contest desperate to end losing streaks. Punjab Kings were aiming to recover after three consecutive defeats, while Delhi Capitals faced a virtual must-win situation to keep their IPL 2026 playoff hopes alive after back-to-back losses.
