New Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], April 1 (ANI): Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra hailed Punjab Kings' (PBKS) win against Gujarat Titans (GT) in their frst match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. He highlighted PBKS' bowling and Shreyas Iyer's captaincy and Cooper Connolly's innings with the bat as key reasons for Punjab's win.

After PBKS restricted GT to 162/6 in 20 overs following a brilliant bowling effort from Marco Jansen, Yuzvendra Chahal and Vijaykumar Vyshak, the Punjab's batting unit survived a scare on Tuesday night as Cooper Connolly guided the team to a three-wicket win with an unbeaten 72-run knock.

Speaking on Star Sports, Aakash Chopra highlighted Punjab's effective use of just five bowlers and strong captaincy from Shreyas Iyer, while also commending Cooper Connolly for his calm, match-winning innings. He added that although the chase could have been finished earlier, what ultimately counts is earning the two points, as standings and net run rate define success by the end of the season.

'There will always be learnings, but it's far better to learn after a win than after a loss. The positives were plenty, especially with the bowling, it was spot on. The captaincy was outstanding as well, using just five bowlers and rotating them smartly. Cooper Connolly, a young Australian batter, came in and took centre stage to guide the team home. Yes, they could have finished the game earlier, but in the end, it's the two points that matter. By the end of the season, people will only talk about points and net run-rate, not how you got them.'

Aakash Chopra also noted that winning the opener is significant for PBKS, especially in a tournament like the IPL, where securing points matters more than how you secure them.

'This is their sixth consecutive season where they have won their opening game. In a tournament like the IPL, you don't overthink the two points you've earned, you take them and move on,' Chopra said.

Sanjay Bangar analysed Cooper Connolly's innings, noting that he initially took advantage of loose bowling from the Gujarat Titans to keep the scoreboard ticking. When wickets fell in the middle overs, Connolly displayed maturity by controlling his instincts and guiding the team to victory, Bangar added.

'In the initial stages of his innings, Connolly benefited from a bit of over-execution by the Gujarat Titans bowlers, who offered plenty of pace on the ball. On that surface, they could have used more variations. Connolly capitalised on anything around his body line and kept the scoreboard moving,' Bangar said.

'Early on, it looked like he would run away with the game. However, after a couple of wickets fell in the middle overs, he showed maturity by curbing his natural instincts and ensuring he finished the game. That was a very encouraging sign,' Bangar said.

The Punjab-based franchise kicked off their IPL 2026 campaign with a three-wicket win over Gujarat. Chasing 162, Cooper Connolly delivered a composed unbeaten 72 off 44 balls, guiding the Punjab Kings to the target in 19.1 overs.

A brilliant spell of 3/29 from GT's Prasidh Krishna sparked a collapse, reducing Punjab from 110/2 to 118/6. However, Connolly held his nerve and ensured his side secured their first points with five balls remaining. He was rightfully named Player of the Match for his impressive debut in the IPL. (ANI)