India, April 1 -- The 2026 Indian Premier League season had its first match that was anybody's game late into the second innings, as Punjab Kings managed to hold their nerve chasing 163 on a tricky surface at the PCA Stadium in Mullanpur, against Gujarat Titans. For Shreyas Iyer's team, it was IPL debutant Cooper Connolly who was the man to thank, as the Australian played with a maturity and cool which belied his 22 years.

After the first three matches proved to be one-sided contests with the writing on the wall early in the piece, the same seemed to be the case as PBKS found themselves coasting with 53 runs needed off 48 deliveries with 8 wickets in hand. A set Connolly was partnered up with captain Shreyas Iyer, and they seemed ready t...