Introduction
IPL 2026 had already delivered one statement victory Rajasthan Royals obliterating Chennai Super Kings the night before but GT vs PBKS Match 4 at Mohali gave the tournament something entirely different: raw tension, collapsing partnerships, a debut hero, and a finish that had thirty thousand people on their feet with every delivery.
Gujarat Titans, led by Shubman Gill, arrived at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium needing a fast start to their campaign. Punjab Kings, batting second after losing the toss, needed composure in a chase that went wrong in almost every direction and yet somehow came right. The story of this match is ultimately the story of one man: Cooper Connolly, an Australian all-rounder making his IPL debut, who walked in at 7/1 and never left until the job was done.
This was not a clean, dominant win. It was scrappy, nerve-wracking, and gloriously uncertain until the very end. That is what makes it worth remembering.
Match Overview
| Tournament | Indian Premier League 2026 Match 4 |
| Venue | Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali (Capacity: 30,000) |
| Date | 31 March 2026 |
| Toss | PBKS won chose to bowl first |
| Weather | Partly cloudy, warm, light breeze good batting conditions |
| Pitch | Normal true surface, standard boundaries |
| Result | Punjab Kings won by 3 wickets |
| Balls Remaining | 5 balls (PBKS chased 163 in 19.1 overs) |
| Player of Match | Cooper Connolly (72* off 44 balls, SR 163.6) |
Gujarat Titans Innings: 162/6 (20 overs)
Gujarat Titans were sent in to bat under partly cloudy skies and began briskly. Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan provided a 37-run opening stand off 22 balls before Sudharsan was caught for 13. From there, Gill (39 off 27) played with authority 6 fours and a strike rate of 144 before Chahal had him caught at mid-off in the 10th over. Jos Buttler (38 off 33) and Glenn Phillips (25 off 17) kept GT afloat through the middle, but the death overs proved costly. Vyshak Vijay Kumar struck twice in the 19th over to dismiss Sundar and Shahrukh Khan in successive deliveries, and GT’s last five overs yielded only 43 runs a below-par finish on a good batting surface.
| Batter | Balls | Runs | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
| Sai Sudharsan | 11 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 118.2 | c Shreyas b Jansen (Ov 4) |
| Shubman Gill (c) | 27 | 39 | 6 | 0 | 144.4 | c Connolly b Chahal (Ov 10) |
| Jos Buttler | 33 | 38 | 3 | 2 | 115.2 | c Bartlett b Chahal (Ov 16) |
| Glenn Phillips | 17 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 147.1 | c Jansen b Vyshak (Ov 14) |
| Washington Sundar | 16 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 112.5 | c Arshdeep b Vyshak (Ov 19) |
| Shahrukh Khan | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 66.7 | c Arshdeep b Vyshak (Ov 19) |
| Rahul Tewatia* | 10 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 110.0 | Not Out |
| Rashid Khan* | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | Not Out |
Extras: 14 (leg byes 2, wides 11, no-balls 1) | Total Sixes: 3 | Total Fours: 15
GT Partnerships
| Wicket | Runs | Balls | Key Batters |
| 1st | 37 | 22 | Sudharsan & Gill |
| 2nd | 46 | 35 | Gill & Buttler |
| 3rd | 36 | 27 | Buttler & Phillips |
| 4th | 10 | 10 | Buttler & Sundar |
| 5th | 15 | 15 | Sundar & Shahrukh |
| 6th | 6 | 5 | Shahrukh & Tewatia |
| 7th | 12* | 7 | Tewatia & Rashid (unbroken) |
PBKS Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Dot Balls |
| Vyshak Vijay Kumar | 4 | 34 | 3 | 8.50 | 8 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | 4 | 28 | 2 | 7.00 | 9 |
| Marco Jansen | 4 | 20 | 1 | 5.00 | 8 |
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | 42 | 0 | 10.50 | 9 |
| Xavier Bartlett | 4 | 36 | 0 | 9.00 | 9 |
Vyshak Vijay Kumar (3/34) was the standout, doing his best work late two wickets in the crucial 19th over shut GT down at a time when 170+ was well within reach. Chahal (2/28) controlled the middle overs with 9 dot balls in 4 overs, and Jansen was remarkably tight for 20 runs off 4 overs at an economy of just 5.00. The big negative was Arshdeep Singh: 42 runs and 8 wides from his 4 overs at 10.5 economy is a number that will concern the PBKS camp, even in victory.
Punjab Kings Chase: 165/7 (19.1 overs)
The Punjab Kings’ chase was simultaneously brilliant and chaotic. They lost Priyansh Arya early for 7, and from there the wickets kept tumbling at inconvenient intervals seven batters dismissed in the end. Yet through the carnage, one man refused to be moved: Cooper Connolly. The Australian came in at 7/1 and batted all the way to 165 without being dismissed, finishing 72 not out off 44 balls. He hit 5 fours and 5 sixes and at one point was the last recognised batsman standing with PBKS still 46 short. The fact that he got them home with five balls to spare is a testament to both his skill and his nerve.
| Batter | Balls | Runs | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
| Priyansh Arya | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 87.5 | c Ashok b Rabada (Ov 2) |
| Prabhsimran Singh | 24 | 37 | 1 | 4 | 154.2 | c Prasidh b Rashid (Ov 10) |
| Cooper Connolly* | 44 | 72 | 5 | 5 | 163.6 | NOT OUT |
| Shreyas Iyer | 11 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 163.6 | c Sundar b Prasidh (Ov 13) |
| Nehal Wadhera | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 50.0 | c Gill b Sundar (Ov 14) |
| Shashank Singh | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 80.0 | c Buttler b Prasidh (Ov 15) |
| Marcus Stoinis | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | c Rashid b Prasidh (Ov 15) |
| Marco Jansen | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 90.0 | c Gill b Ashok (Ov 18) |
| Xavier Bartlett* | 5 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 220.0 | NOT OUT |
Extras: 4 (wides 4) | Total Sixes: 14 | Total Fours: 6
PBKS Partnerships
| Wicket | Runs | Balls | Key Batters |
| 1st | 7 | 8 | Arya & Prabhsimran |
| 2nd | 76 | 49 | Prabhsimran & Connolly — the chase engine |
| 3rd | 27 | 16 | Connolly & Shreyas Iyer |
| 4th | 3 | 6 | Connolly & Wadhera |
| 5th | 5 | 7 | Connolly & Shashank |
| 6th | 0 | 2 | Connolly & Stoinis — three wickets in 4 balls! |
| 7th | 26 | 18 | Connolly & Jansen — rebuilt the chase |
| 8th | 21* | 9 | Connolly & Bartlett — sealed the win (unbroken) |
GT Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Dot Balls |
| Prasidh Krishna | 4 | 29 | 3 | 7.25 | 11 |
| Rashid Khan | 4 | 29 | 1 | 7.25 | 10 |
| Washington Sundar | 3.1 | 27 | 1 | 8.53 | 6 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 3 | 34 | 1 | 11.33 | 7 |
| Mohammed Siraj | 2 | 15 | 0 | 7.50 | 6 |
| Ashok Sharma | 3 | 31 | 1 | 10.33 | 8 |
Prasidh Krishna was GT’s best bowler with 3/29, taking his wickets at a time when they mattered most — Shreyas (Ov 13), Shashank (Ov 15), and Stoinis (Ov 15) in a devastating 4-ball burst that suddenly made the match look like GT’s. Rashid Khan was tidy (7.25 economy) but the one wicket he took was not enough to break Connolly’s resolve. Kagiso Rabada was expensive at 11.33 economy over his 3 overs, and Siraj’s 2-over burst came to nothing. Washington Sundar was used intelligently but the chase was already too far advanced.
Phase-by-Phase Analysis
| Phase | GT Batting | PBKS Chasing | Swing |
| Powerplay (1–6) | 51/1 | 22/1 | GT led by 29 |
| Middle (7–15) | 82/4 | 99/3 | PBKS ahead by 17 |
| Death (16–20) | 29/2 | 44/3 | PBKS closed it out |
| Run Rate | 8.10 | 8.61 | PBKS faster overall |
The contrast between the two innings is stark when you look at the six count: GT struck only 3 sixes in their entire innings, while PBKS hit 14 in their chase. PBKS batted with far greater intent, even if the wickets kept falling. Connolly’s presence at the crease from ball 9 to the final over was the constant that held it all together.
Player Spotlights
| Cooper Connolly — 72* off 44 balls (SR 163.6) Player of the Match | IPL Debut There are debut innings, and then there are debut innings. Cooper Connolly walked to the crease with PBKS reeling at 7/1 in the 2nd over and did not return to the pavilion until the game was won. What followed over the next 84 minutes was a masterclass in T20 batting intelligence: rotating the strike under pressure, picking the right balls to attack, playing big shots at the right moments — five sixes in all — and, crucially, keeping his head when five of his partners fell around him. He faced 44 balls spanning three different phases of the game and accelerated as the pressure mounted, finishing with a strike rate of 250 in the final over. The cricket world has a new name to watch. |
| Prabhsimran Singh — 37 off 24 balls (SR 154.2) 76-run 2nd wicket stand with Connolly When the opening wicket fell cheaply, Prabhsimran came in and immediately went on the attack. Four sixes and 1 four in 24 balls set the tempo for the chase and took PBKS from a shaky 7/1 to a healthy 83/2 by the 10th over. His 76-run partnership with Connolly off just 49 balls was the backbone of the chase. Dismissed by Rashid in the 10th, he had already done enough damage to make PBKS clear favourites — or so it seemed, before GT’s death-over bowling had other ideas. |
| Vyshak Vijay Kumar — 3/34 (4 overs, Economy 8.50) Best Bowler — GT Innings The Kerala pacer did his best work under the most pressure. Two wickets in the crucial 19th over — dispatching Washington Sundar and Shahrukh Khan in successive deliveries — was the moment that kept GT’s total below 170 and gave PBKS a genuinely chaseable target. Over his four overs, Vyshak was consistent and crafty, varying his lengths and using the crease effectively. In a PBKS bowling attack that was somewhat expensive on the night, he stood out as the one bowler who could produce a decisive moment when required |
| Prasidh Krishna — 3/29 (4 overs, Economy 7.25) Best Bowler — PBKS Chase Prasidh was the reason PBKS nearly threw away a game they were winning. His 4-ball burst in the 13th–15th overs — removing Shreyas Iyer, Shashank Singh, and Marcus Stoinis in quick succession — reduced PBKS from 119/3 to 119/6 and turned the crowd’s mood from confident to anxious in an instant. Miserly throughout, tight on his lines, and intelligent with his variations, Prasidh was GT’s warrior on the night. He could not have done more. The problem was that Cooper Connolly was on the other end. |
| Shubman Gill — 39 off 27 balls (SR 144.4) GT Captain | Top Scorer The GT captain played the innings his side needed at the top of the order — 6 fours, positive intent from ball one, and a strike rate above 144. His 46-run partnership with Buttler was the backbone of the Gujarat innings. But he was perhaps dismissed 20–30 runs too early to give GT the platform they needed, and his absence from the crease in the 10th over left the middle order to work harder than they should have. As a captain, his team selection and bowling changes also came under scrutiny in the post-match discussion. |
Key Turning Point
| 1 | PBKS Win the Toss and Bowl Shreyas Iyer called correctly and elected to bowl in conditions offering some assistance for the seam bowlers. The decision proved shrewd GT’s openers were watchful rather than explosive in the powerplay, and PBKS used the conditions effectively to keep the scoring rate in check. |
| 2 | Vyshak’s Double Strike in the 19th Over GT were placed at 147/4 going into the 19th over with Sundar and Shahrukh at the crease. Vyshak removed both in the same over. That 5-run, 2-wicket over essentially sealed GT’s total at 162 — a target PBKS would ultimately chase, but not without enormous drama. |
| 3 | Connolly and Prabhsimran Build 76 Together After Arya’s early exit, the 76-run second-wicket stand between Connolly and Prabhsimran off just 49 balls transformed the chase from crisis to comfort. By the 10th over, PBKS needed 83 off 60 with 8 wickets in hand. It felt like it was done. It was not. |
| 4 | Prasidh’s Hat-Trick of Wickets (Overs 13–15) Prasidh Krishna produced the over of the match when it mattered most, dismissing Shreyas Iyer, Shashank Singh, and Marcus Stoinis in the space of four balls across two overs. PBKS went from 119/3 to 119/6 in the blink of an eye, needing 44 off 30 with only Connolly and the lower order remaining. GT were back in it. |
| 5 | Connolly and Bartlett’s Unbroken 8th-Wicket Stand With GT sniffing a miraculous victory, Connolly refused to panic. He and Xavier Bartlett added 21 unbroken runs off just 9 balls Bartlett contributing 11 off 5 including a six to seal the win with 5 balls remaining. It was the calmer, craftier performance that clinched it. |
Match Analysis
| What Worked for PBKS Connolly’s unbroken anchor innings Prabhsimran’s explosive platform-setting Vyshak’s decisive 19th-over double strike Chahal and Jansen’s tight middle-over lines Shreyas Iyer’s calm chase management Bartlett’s composure in the final partnership | What Went Wrong for GT Batting collapse from 119/3 to 119/6 in 4 balls Gill dismissed 20 runs too early (Ov 10) Only 3 sixes in entire innings on a good pitch Rabada expensive (34 runs, 3 overs, economy 11.33) No plan to dismiss Connolly in the final overs Death overs haemorrhaged extras and boundaries |
Captaincy Insight
Shreyas Iyer showed calm authority in the PBKS dugout. His decision to give Vyshak the 19th over a bowler who had been expensive earlier proved a masterstroke, and his batting contribution of 18 off 11 balls at the crease came at a point when PBKS needed intent, not caution. He read the chase intelligently and kept the required run rate manageable through the middle overs.
Shubman Gill’s captaincy in the field was harder to fault in terms of bowling changes Prasidh’s triple-wicket burst was an inspired move but his failure to bat deeper in the innings cost GT 15–20 runs. A total of 175+ would likely have been beyond PBKS, and that difference starts at the top of the batting order with the captain.
Full Match Summary Stats
| Combined Runs | 327 (162 + 165) |
| Total Sixes (Both Innings) | 17 (3 GT + 14 PBKS) |
| Total Fours (Both Innings) | 21 (15 GT + 6 PBKS) |
| GT Run Rate | 8.10 |
| PBKS Run Rate | 8.61 |
| Winning Margin | 3 wickets, 5 balls to spare |
| Top Scorer | Cooper Connolly: 72* (44) |
| Best Bowler (GT innings) | Vyshak Vijay Kumar: 3/34 |
| Best Bowler (PBKS chase) | Prasidh Krishna: 3/29 |
| Most Dot Balls (Bowling) | Prasidh Krishna: 11 |
| Most Expensive (Bowling) | Arshdeep Singh: 42 off 4 overs (Econ 10.50) |
| Most Sixes in Chase | Cooper Connolly: 5 |
IPL 2026 Points Table Impact
Punjab Kings move to 2 points with a strong net run rate boost after their successful chase. They join Rajasthan Royals who demolished CSK by 8 wickets the previous evening as the two sides with early wins in the tournament. Gujarat Titans, despite a competitive performance, sit on 0 points from their opening match and face early pressure to respond in their next fixture.
The next IPL match is KKR vs SRH on 2 April 2026, before the tournament continues into its second week of what already promises to be a memorable season.
Post-Match Reactions
The PBKS camp was euphoric. Cooper Connolly’s name was on every lip teammates, coaching staff, and pundits alike struggled to find a debut performance in recent IPL history to match what had just been witnessed. Shreyas Iyer praised the squad’s depth and fighting character, noting that the ability to chase from difficult positions was a skill they had been building through the pre-season.
Gujarat Titans were sombre but measured. Shubman Gill acknowledged that a total of 162 was below what they had the batting firepower to achieve, and accepted that the death overs both in their innings and in the field would need significant improvement before their next game. Prasidh Krishna’s bowling was highlighted as a genuine positive: his 3-wicket burst had the game on a knife-edge and showed exactly the quality GT possess when the execution is right.
Cricket analysts across social media focused almost exclusively on Connolly. Several former international players called it one of the greatest individual debut innings in IPL history, with specific praise for his ability to pace the chase and remain unbeaten despite the collapse around him. The Mullanpur crowd and the wider cricketing world will be watching his next innings with enormous interest.
What’s Next?
| Punjab Kings Carry massive confidence from this win. The Connolly-Prabhsimran opening partnership has already announced itself as one of the most dangerous in the tournament. Key focus: converting close wins into dominant ones, and addressing Arshdeep’s expensive spells in the powerplay. | Gujarat Titans Need to respond immediately. Their bowling has the weapons Rashid, Prasidh, and Siraj form a fearsome trio but the batting must go deeper and the death overs must be addressed. Shubman Gill batting past the 10th over would be a very good start. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Who won the GT vs PBKS match on 31 March 2026?
Punjab Kings won by 3 wickets, chasing down 163 with 5 balls to spare.
Q2. What were the final scores?
Gujarat Titans posted 162/6 in 20 overs. Punjab Kings chased it down for 165/7 in 19.1 overs.
Q3. Who was the Player of the Match?
Cooper Connolly of Punjab Kings, for his match-winning unbeaten 72 off 44 balls on IPL debut one of the finest individual debut knocks in recent IPL history.
Q4. Where was the match played?
At the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali, Punjab — Punjab Kings’ home ground, with a capacity of 30,000.
Q5. Why did GT lose the match despite bowling well at the death?
GT’s total of 162 was ultimately below par on a good batting surface. They failed to capitalise in the death overs with only 3 sixes in the entire innings, and while Prasidh Krishna’s 3-wicket burst brought them to within touching distance, Cooper Connolly’s unbeaten innings proved too much to overcome.
Q6. Who bowled the most wickets in this match?
Both Vyshak Vijay Kumar (PBKS, 3/34) and Prasidh Krishna (GT, 3/29) took three wickets each, making them the leading wicket-takers of the match.
Q7. What was the match’s biggest turning point?
Prasidh Krishna’s burst of three wickets in four balls between overs 13 and 15, reducing PBKS from 119/3 to 119/6. Had GT taken one more wicket quickly, the result could have been very different.
Q8. How many sixes were hit in total?
17 sixes across both innings just 3 by GT and a remarkable 14 by PBKS, highlighting the difference in intent and execution between the two batting lineups.
Conclusion
The GT vs PBKS clash on 31 March 2026 will be remembered for one name above all others Cooper Connolly. His 72 not out on debut was the kind of innings that defines careers: composed under crisis, intelligent when wickets fell around him, and devastating when the moment demanded. He is only just getting started, and the IPL has a new star.
But this was also a match that exposed real questions on both sides. For Gujarat Titans, the batting must be more explosive and the death overs both with bat and ball must be tightened up considerably. For Punjab Kings, the over-reliance on Connolly in a chase that should have been simpler is a warning sign that the middle order remains fragile.
As IPL 2026 gathers pace with Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings already flying, and teams like Mumbai Indians, CSK, and GT yet to find their best form the season ahead promises to be among the most competitive in the tournament’s history. Match 4 set the tone perfectly.