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Most 6s by a Batter On IPL Debut:
13 - Brendon McCullum (KKR) vs RCB, Bengaluru, 2008
9 - Michael Hussey (CSK) vs PBKS, Mohali, 2008
7 - Kyle Mayers (LSG) vs DC, Lucknow, 2023
5 - Jake Fraser-McGurk (DC) vs LSG, Lucknow, 2024
5 - Cooper Connolly (PBKS) vs GT, Mullanpur, 2026, Tonight*
13 - Brendon McCullum (KKR) vs RCB, Bengaluru, 2008
9 - Michael Hussey (CSK) vs PBKS, Mohali, 2008
7 - Kyle Mayers (LSG) vs DC, Lucknow, 2023
5 - Jake Fraser-McGurk (DC) vs LSG, Lucknow, 2024
5 - Cooper Connolly (PBKS) vs GT, Mullanpur, 2026, Tonight*
11:38 PM IST, Local Time: Raunak Kapoor is ready with the post-match presentation...
Super Striker of the Match: Cooper Connolly (SR 163.64)
Super Sixes of the Match: Cooper Connolly (5 Maximums)
Super Fours of the Match: Shubman Gill (6 Fours)
Most Dot Balls in the Match: Prasidh Krishna (11 Dots)
Shreyas Iyer (Punjab Kings Captain): [On his injury to his hand] I would say it is nice. It is the same as it was before. Don't want to jinx it, hopefully, everything will come out all right.
[On Cooper Connolly] Absolutely. Some of the shots he played were surreal to watch. The backfoot six off Rashid Khan, one of the best bowlers in IPL. To hit them so cleanly was phenomenal.
[Mood in dugout] I was focused on my hand inside, icing it. Then suddenly, we lost two wickets back-to-back. These things happen in IPL. You have to be calm and composed in such situations. Cooper was there, he was well set. He's got great awareness as a player, I have seen him play for Australia and he did the job.
[On bowling plans] I think after the 3rd over, we realised the wicket was playing slow. We decided to try and make the ball old as early as possible. Just bowl slower ones into the wicket and that helped us.
[On Vyshak] Certainly, he is carrying forward the form that he showed in the final last season. He's a big match player. It is phenomenal to come in a big game and deliver. I feel that we need to carry this momentum into the tournament going forward.
[On forward short leg in place for his first ball] Yeah, I was actually. I just told Shubman that it is something that I haven't seen before. But it is good to see captains being aggressive."
[On Cooper Connolly] Absolutely. Some of the shots he played were surreal to watch. The backfoot six off Rashid Khan, one of the best bowlers in IPL. To hit them so cleanly was phenomenal.
[Mood in dugout] I was focused on my hand inside, icing it. Then suddenly, we lost two wickets back-to-back. These things happen in IPL. You have to be calm and composed in such situations. Cooper was there, he was well set. He's got great awareness as a player, I have seen him play for Australia and he did the job.
[On bowling plans] I think after the 3rd over, we realised the wicket was playing slow. We decided to try and make the ball old as early as possible. Just bowl slower ones into the wicket and that helped us.
[On Vyshak] Certainly, he is carrying forward the form that he showed in the final last season. He's a big match player. It is phenomenal to come in a big game and deliver. I feel that we need to carry this momentum into the tournament going forward.
[On forward short leg in place for his first ball] Yeah, I was actually. I just told Shubman that it is something that I haven't seen before. But it is good to see captains being aggressive."
Player of the Match: Cooper Connolly
Cooper Connolly (Player of the Match): "Well, I was focused on getting the experience in playing with some world class players by playing some good cricket. To put on a show tonight was nice. We wanted to start the season with a victory which was nice.
(Build up to this game) It was a bit of a refresh for me. I had a couple of practice days at home. I spent some time with my family and friends. I decided to reset and go into the IPL as fresh as I can.
(On practicing range hitting) I think it's slightly different for me. I am more of a tempo player. I don't try to hit too many big sixes. I try to feel the flow with my hands. Working with Ricky (Ponting) has been great. It was been great in the first five days and I am looking forward to the rest of the tournament.
(What was the chat with the incoming batters when the chase got tricky) To be honest not a lot was said from my end to them. I was very relaxed out there. I still felt that we were in a really good position in the game. Marco was pretty calm and so was Xavier. I have spent so much time with him before. He had a massive smile on his face. Looking forward to the rest of the tournament.
(Favourite shot tonight?) Yeah, that's the first time I have played him (Rashid Khan). I was enjoying the battle. It was nice to contribute for the team. Looking forward to the rest of the tournament."
(Build up to this game) It was a bit of a refresh for me. I had a couple of practice days at home. I spent some time with my family and friends. I decided to reset and go into the IPL as fresh as I can.
(On practicing range hitting) I think it's slightly different for me. I am more of a tempo player. I don't try to hit too many big sixes. I try to feel the flow with my hands. Working with Ricky (Ponting) has been great. It was been great in the first five days and I am looking forward to the rest of the tournament.
(What was the chat with the incoming batters when the chase got tricky) To be honest not a lot was said from my end to them. I was very relaxed out there. I still felt that we were in a really good position in the game. Marco was pretty calm and so was Xavier. I have spent so much time with him before. He had a massive smile on his face. Looking forward to the rest of the tournament.
(Favourite shot tonight?) Yeah, that's the first time I have played him (Rashid Khan). I was enjoying the battle. It was nice to contribute for the team. Looking forward to the rest of the tournament."
After 3 one-sided contests, we got to see a sort of thriller in Mullanpur!!!! It would have been an easy call to give Vyshak Vijaykumar, the one who returned with figures of 3/34 to restrict Gujarat Titans to a well below par score. Still, Cooper Connolly's surreal IPL debut leapfrogged the seamer's performance. Was Shubman Gill late in giving the last season's Purple Cap Winner, Prasidh Krishna, a bowl? The question will be echoing GT's meeting rooms.
For now, PBKS kick off their IPL 2026 campaign with a win. So far, all teams that have chased have won the games. Tomorrow, Wednesday, we have the remaining 2 teams beginning their campaign in the 19th edition as Lucknow Super Giants host Delhi Capitals at Ekana.
This is me, AkshayaKrishna Polya, who is signing off on behalf of my co-commentators, Ajay Pal Singh, Pritam Dey, scorers Manish Bishnoi, Paras Yadav and statistician Aman. We will meet again. Until then, it is cheers!!!
For now, PBKS kick off their IPL 2026 campaign with a win. So far, all teams that have chased have won the games. Tomorrow, Wednesday, we have the remaining 2 teams beginning their campaign in the 19th edition as Lucknow Super Giants host Delhi Capitals at Ekana.
This is me, AkshayaKrishna Polya, who is signing off on behalf of my co-commentators, Ajay Pal Singh, Pritam Dey, scorers Manish Bishnoi, Paras Yadav and statistician Aman. We will meet again. Until then, it is cheers!!!