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PBKS vs GT Result IPL 2026: Punjab Kings Beat Gujarat Titans by 3 Wickets — Match Summary & Scorecard
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Punjab Kings beat Gujarat Titans by 3 wickets in Match 4 of IPL 2026 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur on March 31. Debutant Cooper Connolly’s unbeaten 72 off 44 balls proved the difference as PBKS chased down 163 with 5 balls remaining despite a late wobble. Connolly was named Player of the Match for his match-winning knock on IPL debut.
PBKS vs GT Match Summary
Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first. The decision paid off quickly as Marco Jansen removed Sai Sudharsan (13) in the 4th over after an aggressive 37-run opening stand. Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler then steadied the ship, pushing GT to 54/1 at the end of the powerplay.
The middle overs belonged to Punjab’s spinners. Yuzvendra Chahal trapped Gill (39) in front, breaking a dangerous partnership at 83. Glenn Phillips (25) and Buttler looked to accelerate but found it difficult against PBKS’s disciplined bowling. Buttler’s dismissal — caught brilliantly by Xavier Bartlett at mid-wicket off Chahal — was the game-changing moment.
Vijaykumar Vyshak wreaked havoc in the death overs, claiming three wickets including Washington Sundar (18) and Shahrukh Khan (4) in quick succession. Rahul Tewatia’s 11* provided some late impetus, but GT finished well below par at 162/6. Vyshak’s 3/34 was the standout bowling performance.
Chasing 163, PBKS lost Priyansh Arya (0) early to Kagiso Rabada. But Cooper Connolly announced himself on the IPL stage with fearless strokeplay. Alongside Prabhsimran Singh (36), he put on 76 for the second wicket to set the platform. PBKS cruised to 83/2 at the halfway mark.
Then came the twist. Prasidh Krishna, brought on as impact sub, produced a devastating spell. He dismissed Shreyas Iyer (18), Shashank Singh (5), and Marcus Stoinis (0) in quick succession. PBKS collapsed from 110/3 to 118/6, needing 45 off 32 balls with wickets tumbling.
Connolly held his nerve. Marco Jansen (15) provided crucial support before falling, but Connolly farmed the strike brilliantly. With 2 needed off the final over, he drove Washington Sundar through covers for four to seal a memorable win.
PBKS vs GT Scorecard
Gujarat Titans — 162/6 (20.0 overs)
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shubman Gill (c) | 39 | 27 | 4 | 1 | 144.44 |
| Jos Buttler (wk) | 38 | 33 | 3 | 1 | 115.15 |
| Glenn Phillips | 25 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 147.06 |
| Washington Sundar | 18 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 112.50 |
| Sai Sudharsan | 13 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 118.18 |
| Rahul Tewatia | 11* | 10 | 0 | 1 | 110.00 |
Key Bowling: Vijaykumar Vyshak 4-0-34-3, Yuzvendra Chahal 4-0-28-2, Marco Jansen 4-0-26-1
Punjab Kings — 165/7 (19.1 overs)
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper Connolly | 72* | 44 | 6 | 4 | 163.64 |
| Prabhsimran Singh (wk) | 36 | 25 | 3 | 2 | 144.00 |
| Shreyas Iyer (c) | 18 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 138.46 |
| Marco Jansen | 15 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 107.14 |
| Nehal Wadhera | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
Key Bowling: Prasidh Krishna 4-0-29-3, Rashid Khan 4-0-18-1, Washington Sundar 4-0-38-1
Player of the Match: Cooper Connolly
The 22-year-old Australian left-hander delivered one of the finest IPL debut knocks in tournament history. Coming in at No. 3, Connolly smashed 72* off 44 balls with 6 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 163.64. His ability to rotate strike during the collapse phase, then finish the game with a boundary, showed maturity beyond his years. PBKS paid ₹3 crore for him at the auction — that already looks like a steal.
Turning Point of the Match
Prasidh Krishna’s 13th over changed everything. With PBKS cruising at 110/3, he dismissed Shreyas Iyer caught behind, then yorked Shashank Singh next ball. Three balls later, Marcus Stoinis edged to the keeper. Three wickets in 5 balls. Suddenly, PBKS were 118/6 and GT were back in the hunt. But Connolly’s composure under pressure proved the difference.
Updated IPL 2026 Points Table After PBKS vs GT
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | NRR | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RCB | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2.713 | 2 |
| 2 | RR | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1.680 | 2 |
| 3 | PBKS | 1 | 1 | 0 | +0.168 | 2 |
| 4 | CSK | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1.680 | 0 |
| 5 | GT | 1 | 0 | 1 | -0.168 | 0 |
| 6 | SRH | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2.713 | 0 |
| 7-10 | KKR, MI, LSG, DC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0 |
PBKS move to 3rd position with 2 points and a positive NRR of +0.168. GT drop to 5th with their first defeat of IPL 2026. The narrow margin keeps GT’s NRR manageable at -0.168, but they’ll need quick wins to climb the table.
What’s Next for Both Teams
- Punjab Kings: Face Chennai Super Kings at MA Chidambaram Stadium on April 3 (Match 7). Cooper Connolly’s form gives PBKS momentum, but Chepauk’s spin-friendly surface will test their overseas batters against CSK’s spinners.
- Gujarat Titans: Host Rajasthan Royals at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on April 4 (Match 9). GT need Gill and Buttler to convert starts into big scores. Their death bowling also needs attention after leaking runs to Connolly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won PBKS vs GT today IPL 2026?
Punjab Kings beat Gujarat Titans by 3 wickets in Match 4 of IPL 2026 at New Chandigarh on March 31, 2026. PBKS chased down 163 with 5 balls to spare.
What was the score of PBKS vs GT IPL 2026?
Gujarat Titans scored 162/6 in 20 overs. Punjab Kings chased it down with 165/7 in 19.1 overs, winning by 3 wickets.
Who was Player of the Match in PBKS vs GT?
Cooper Connolly (Punjab Kings) won Player of the Match for his unbeaten 72 off 44 balls on IPL debut. He guided PBKS to victory after a mid-innings collapse.
Where is PBKS in IPL 2026 points table?
After beating GT, PBKS are 3rd in the IPL 2026 points table with 2 points from 1 match and a NRR of +0.168. RCB and RR are above them on superior NRR.
When is PBKS’s next match in IPL 2026?
Punjab Kings play Chennai Super Kings on April 3, 2026 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai (Match 7). The match starts at 7:30 PM IST.
The PBKS vs GT result in IPL 2026 sees Punjab Kings climb to 3rd in the points table with a thrilling win. Cooper Connolly’s debut masterclass — 72* off 44 under immense pressure — will be remembered as one of the great first-game performances in IPL history. The last season’s finalists start their title quest exactly as they’d hoped: with a win at home.
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