Vyshak, Connolly star as PBKS get off to winning start at home

In a nutshell

Runners-up last edition, Punjab Kings began IPL 2026 with a briefly nervy, but largely comfortable three-wicket win over Gujarat Titans at home on Tuesday (March 31). Vijaykumar Vyshak (3 for 34) was the pick of the bowlers, restricting the Titans to a sub-par 162/6 when they seemed set for a 200+ score. Cooper Connolly then shone on debut, part dominating and part anchoring the chase with his 44-ball 72 not out on IPL debut. PBKS were in a soup at one point, losing four wickets for eight runs in the middle-overs phase, but the Australian regained control at death to get the hosts over the line with five balls to spare.

The match in phases

Brief scores: Gujarat Titans 162/6 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 39 off 27, Glenn Phillips 25 off 17; Vijaykumar Vyshak 3-34, Yuzvendra Chahal 2-28) lost to Punjab Kings 165/7 in 19.1 overs (Cooper Connolly 72* off 44, Prabhsimran Singh 37 off 24; Prasidh Krishna 3-29) by 3 wickets

Who won PBKS the game?

After three solid partnerships upfront, Gujarat Titans seemed set for a 200+ score but it was Vijaykumar Vyshak's crucial strike that sucked the momentum out. He sent back the dangerous-looking Glenn Phillips with a clever slower ball, reducing Titans to 119/3 at the end of the 14th over. The visitors could never recover. Titans, who had relied heavily on their top order throughout IPL 2025 were guilty of the same tonight as well. No meaningful partnerships came thereafter, and Vyshak claimed their finishers - Washington Sundar and Shahrukh Khan - at either end of the 19th over to all but condemn the Titans to a below-par score.

How did GT get to 162 then?

Courtesy a generous 20th over from Arshdeep Singh that saw four wides, two free-hits, a no-ball and 12 runs scored. Believe it or not, that was the most expensive over of the five at death - a phase where otherwise the batters found the boundary just twice.

So, PBKS showed more intent?

Right through. The six-hitting remained a constant feature in PBKS' reply, irrespective of the phase of the innings and despite the intermittent rain. Prabhsimran Singh and Connolly, who shared a 76-run stand in 49 deliveries, slammed four each to put Punjab in the driver's seat despite an early jolt. Skipper Shreyas Iyer, who came in after that second-wicket stand, also chipped in two maximums in his 11-ball cameo worth 18.

How did it go down to the very last over then?

Of course there were twists. Impact sub Prasidh Krishna was curiously MIA until the 13th over of Punjab's chase. But he proved very effective right from the get-go - claiming Nehal Wadhera's wicket first ball and Shashank Singh with the second delivery of his second over. After the strategic time out, in the same over, he sent back the dangerous Marcus Stoinis with a short-ball. Punjab slipped from a rather comfortable 110/2 to 118/6 in the space of 14 balls. That along with the persistent drizzle in the backdrop would have had the hosts in panic mode.

Who pulled it back for Punjab?

The debutant; by taking on the experienced Rabada. When width was on offer, Connolly cut it behind square to raise a 34-ball fifty for himself on IPL debut. He closed the over with a six off a short ball, fetching it outside off and depositing it into the deep square leg stand. Crucially, that brought the equation back in PBKS' control with 30 required off the last-four overs. Marco Jansen and Xavier Bartlett each hit a six to maintain the tempo, and Conolly applied the finishing touches with a couple of boundary hits, including the one that secured the winning runs on the first ball of the final over.

What's next for the two teams?

Punjab head down south for their away fixture against CSK on Friday (April 3). The Titans, meanwhile, head home for their game against Rajasthan Royals on Saturday (April 4).