Punjab Kings held their nerve to defeat Gujarat Titans by 3 wickets in a thrilling IPL 2026 clash at Mullanpur on March 31. The match went down to the final over, with debutant Cooper Connolly playing a standout role.
GT Post a Competitive Total
Gujarat Titans finished with 162/6 after being asked to bat first by Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer. Shubman Gill led the scoring with a quick 39 off 27 balls, while Jos Buttler added a steady 38 off 33.
Punjab’s bowlers pulled things back in the middle and death overs. Vijaykumar Vyshak was impressive with 3/34, while Yuzvendra Chahal picked up 2/28, including key wickets of Gill and Buttler.
A stunning mid-air catch by Xavier Bartlett to dismiss Buttler proved to be a big turning point.
Connolly Anchors the Chase
Punjab Kings chased down 165 in 19.1 overs, but it was far from easy.
Debutant Cooper Connolly stole the show with an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls. His knock included five fours and five sixes, showing both calm and confidence under pressure.
Prabhsimran Singh supported well with 37 off 24, and together they added a crucial 76 runs for the second wicket.
Sudden Collapse Keeps GT Alive
Just when Punjab looked in control at 110/2, the match flipped quickly.
They lost four wickets in just 15 balls, slipping to 118/6 and bringing Gujarat back into the game.
Prasidh Krishna led the fightback with 3/29, dismissing Iyer, Shashank Singh, and Marcus Stoinis in a fiery spell.
Calm Finish Under Pressure
With the game hanging in the balance, Connolly stayed composed. He guided the chase smartly and sealed the win with a boundary off Washington Sundar, with five balls still remaining.
The debutant seals it in style! 💪@PunjabKingsIPL clinch a thriller in New Chandigarh to get their campaign going with a win ❤️
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/75rCxTCOL1#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #PBKSvGT pic.twitter.com/WqBQNjuvA1
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 31, 2026
Punjab Kings crossed the line at 165/7, completing a memorable win.
PBKS vs GT: Top Performers of The Match
- Cooper Connolly, 72* (44), Player of the Match
- Prasidh Krishna, 3/29
- Vijaykumar Vyshak, 3/34
- Shubman Gill, 39 (27)
- Yuzvendra Chahal, 2/28