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PBKS vs GT Highlights IPL 2026: Top Performers, Key Moments & Best Plays
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The PBKS vs GT IPL 2026 match delivered a thriller at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur on March 31. Punjab Kings beat Gujarat Titans by 3 wickets with 5 balls remaining. Here are the highlights, top performers, and key moments from this dramatic contest.
Match Result at a Glance
| Winner | Punjab Kings by 3 wickets |
| Player of the Match | Cooper Connolly (72* off 44) |
| Gujarat Titans | 162/6 (20.0 overs) |
| Punjab Kings | 165/7 (19.1 overs) |
Top Performers: PBKS vs GT
Cooper Connolly — Punjab Kings
- Stats: 72* off 44 balls | 6 fours, 4 sixes | SR: 163.64
- Impact: The Australian left-hander walked into a cauldron when he joined Prabhsimran at 7/1 in the 2nd over. What followed was a batting clinic. He carted Rashid Khan for a six over long-on to settle nerves, then systematically dismantled GT’s pace attack. When PBKS collapsed from 110/3 to 118/6, Connolly refused to panic. He farmed the strike brilliantly, faced 17 of the last 21 balls, and sealed the win with a cover drive. An IPL debut innings for the ages.
- Season Form: First IPL match, first IPL fifty — Connolly announced his arrival in style. His T20 credentials (209 runs and 15 wickets in BBL 2025-26 for Perth Scorchers) made him a ₹3 crore pick. PBKS now have a genuine match-winner at No. 3.
Prasidh Krishna — Gujarat Titans
- Stats: 4-0-29-3 | Economy: 7.25
- Impact: Brought on as the Impact Sub in the 13th over with PBKS cruising, Prasidh turned the game on its head. He got Shreyas Iyer caught behind with extra bounce, then yorked Shashank Singh first ball. When Marcus Stoinis edged to the keeper next over, GT were right back in it. Three wickets in two overs — Prasidh showed why he remains one of India’s most lethal pacers when on song.
- Season Form: First match of IPL 2026 and already a match-turning spell. Had Prasidh been in the starting XI, the story might’ve been different. His ability to extract bounce on slower pitches makes him a potent weapon.
Vijaykumar Vyshak — Punjab Kings
- Stats: 4-0-34-3 | Economy: 8.50
- Impact: The Karnataka seamer was the architect of GT’s below-par total. His variations at the death were exceptional — mixing slower balls with accurate yorkers. He dismissed Washington Sundar and Shahrukh Khan in the 18th over to choke GT when they were looking to explode. His wicket of Glenn Phillips at a crucial juncture broke the dangerous-looking partnership with Buttler.
- Season Form: Vyshak’s 3/34 is the best bowling performance for PBKS this season so far. After being a fringe player last year, he’s made a strong statement on opening night.
Key Moments & Highlights
- Over 4.4 (GT innings): Marco Jansen breaks the opening stand. Sai Sudharsan (13) pulls a short ball straight to deep midwicket. GT 37/1. The partnership with Gill was looking ominous; this wicket changed the momentum.
- Over 9.3 (GT innings): Yuzvendra Chahal traps Shubman Gill lbw for 39. The GT captain was looking set for a big one but played across a flighted delivery. GT’s run rate dropped from 8.7 to 6.5 in the next 4 overs as PBKS tightened the screws.
- Over 15.4 (GT innings): Xavier Bartlett pulls off a spectacular mid-wicket catch to dismiss Jos Buttler (38). The ball was smashed hard, but Bartlett sprinted from deep square, dived full length, and held on one-handed. A potential match-changing moment — Buttler was set and looking dangerous.
- Over 13.1-14.4 (PBKS innings): Prasidh Krishna’s game-changing spell. Iyer, Shashank, Stoinis — all gone in the space of 9 balls. PBKS collapse from 110/3 to 118/6. The Mullanpur crowd goes silent. But Cooper Connolly stays calm.
- Over 19.1 (PBKS innings): Connolly seals it. Washington Sundar bowls full, Connolly drives through covers for four. PBKS win. The debutant raises his bat, Shreyas Iyer leads the dugout charge, and Mullanpur erupts.
Records & Stats from This Match
- Cooper Connolly’s 72* is the highest score by an overseas debutant for PBKS in IPL history, surpassing Shaun Marsh’s 64 in 2008.
- PBKS have won 4 of their last 6 matches against GT in IPL — this fixture has become their happy hunting ground.
- Prasidh Krishna’s 3/29 marks the first time a substitute player has taken 3+ wickets for GT in IPL history.
- Vijaykumar Vyshak has now taken 3+ wickets in consecutive T20 matches dating back to the SMAT 2025-26 final.
What This Performance Means Going Forward
For PBKS, Cooper Connolly’s arrival solves their No. 3 puzzle. Last season, they shuffled between Priyansh Arya and domestic options; now they have a left-hander with the temperament to handle pressure. The balance looks better than IPL 2025 — and they finished runners-up then.
Vyshak’s emergence as a death-overs specialist gives Arshdeep Singh support. Shreyas Iyer can now rotate his seamers more confidently in the backend. The only concern? Prabhsimran’s dismissal against pace — Rabada troubled him throughout his 36.
GT’s problems run deeper. Shubman Gill and Buttler both got starts but couldn’t convert. Without a match-finishing innings from their top order, the middle order lacks firepower. Rashid Khan went for 4.5 RPO but didn’t take wickets when it mattered. Ashutosh Nehra has work to do before RR visit Ahmedabad.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the highlights of PBKS vs GT IPL 2026?
Key highlights include Cooper Connolly’s match-winning 72* on debut, Prasidh Krishna’s three-wicket burst that triggered a collapse, Xavier Bartlett’s stunning catch to dismiss Buttler, and Vyshak’s death-over bowling that restricted GT to 162.
Who was the top performer in PBKS vs GT?
Cooper Connolly was the top performer with 72* off 44 balls, winning Player of the Match. He guided PBKS home despite losing 4 wickets for 8 runs around him. Prasidh Krishna (3/29) was GT’s best performer.
Were any records broken in PBKS vs GT?
Yes — Cooper Connolly’s 72* is the highest score by an overseas debutant for Punjab Kings in IPL history. Additionally, Prasidh Krishna became the first impact substitute player to take 3+ wickets for Gujarat Titans.
Who scored the most runs in PBKS vs GT today?
Cooper Connolly (PBKS) scored the most runs in the match — 72 not out off 44 balls with 6 fours and 4 sixes. For GT, Shubman Gill top-scored with 39 off 27 balls.
The PBKS vs GT highlights from IPL 2026 will be remembered for Cooper Connolly’s nerveless debut knock and the drama of Prasidh Krishna’s comeback spell. This was T20 cricket at its unpredictable finest — PBKS cruising, then collapsing, then recovering through one man’s composure. Connolly’s 72* etched his name into IPL folklore on night one of his career. A star is born.
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