Table of Contents
Punjab Kings started their campaign in an utmost modest way, exceeding everyone’s expectations. They clinched a 3-wicket victory against the Gujarat Titans in Mullanpur. A game dominated by debutants and spin, PBKS successfully chased 163, despite the sudden middle-order collapse.
Earlier, Gujarat’s explosive top order comprising Shubman Gill (39) and Jos Buttler (38) was seemingly heading for a big score, but the PBKS spinning pair of Yuzvendra Chahal and the disciplined Vijaykumar Vyshak put a stop to the run chase with an effective choking job, which saw GT managing only 162/6. But the night belonged to 22-year-old Australian debutant Cooper Connolly, whose unbeaten 72 transformed a nightmare collapse into a dream start for the Kings
IPL 2026 Match 4: PBKS vs GT Player Ratings
PBKS Player Ratings vs GT
1. Priyansh Arya (Impact Player) - 3/10
He failed to make an impact, falling for just 7, after being hurried by Kagiso Rabada on a short ball.
2. Prabhsimran Singh - 7/10
His aggressive score, 37 off 24 balls (including 4 sixes), was what balanced the 76-run partnership with Cooper Connolly.
3. Cooper Connolly - 10/10
Rating him 10 was debatable; however, he led PBKS to a victory under intense pressure. When every batter kept failing, Cooper Connolly managed his calm, and this young Australian scored 72 off 44 balls. He hit a 103-meter six as well. This is what you call a ‘clutch player’.
4. Shreyas Iyer - 5.5/10
Captaincy, no doubt, was effective and proactive. His batting was more expected, as he scored 18 off 11 with 2 sixes, after he threw away his wicket to Prasidh Krishna.
5. Nehal Wadhera/Shashank Singh/Marcus Stoinis - 2/10
All three failed to score a double-digit score and created the middle-order muddle. Their collective failure cost the game for PBKS.
6. Marco Jansen - 7.5/10
He delivered a good all-round performance. He got the ball rolling early by dismissing Sai Sudharsan and returned with 1/20. He was also able to contribute with an important six in the about on chase.
7. Xavier Bartlett – 6.5/10
No wickets with the ball, but had a huge role in the field, taking an impressive catch to remove Buttler. With the bat, he then displayed nerves of steel, hitting a crucial six in the 19th over before finishing.
8. Vijaykumar Vyshak - 9.5/10
The hero of the first innings. His variations were unplayable for GT’s batters. He finished with 3/34, taking wickets of Glenn Phillips, Washington Sundar and Shahrukh Khan.
9. Arshdeep Singh - 3/10
It was not his day, and clearly, he struggled with his lines, conceding 42 runs in 4 overs, without taking a wicket.
10. Yuzvendra Chahal - 9/10
Chahal dismissed Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler, and his figure of 2/28 is why GT was short of 20 runs more.
Also Read: LSG vs DC IPL 2026 Preview: Shami vs Rahul key as Lucknow Super Giants host Delhi Capitals at Ekana
GT Players Ratings vs PBKS:
1. Sai Sudharsan - 4/10
Last year’s recipient of the Orange Cap never got things going, dismissed early for 13. GT have missed his insight to hold the innings.
2. Shubman Gill – 7.5/10
He was in sublime touch for his 39 off 27, piercing the gaps effortlessly. But his dismissal of Chahal, just when he seemed primed to accelerate, proved costly for the Titans’ total.
3. Jos Buttler - 6.5/10
He played a knock of 38, but failed to bring a 180 total for GT, while he was undone by a brilliant catch by Xavier Bartlett.
4. Washington Sundar/Kagiso Rabada - 4/10
Two wickets were taken by Washington Sundar and Kagiso Rabada, but they were very expensive. Sundar had the challenge of defending two runs in the last over, and Connolly dismissed him with the very first ball.
5. Rahul Tewatia/Shahrukh Khan - 3/10
The individuals known as finishers couldn’t finish. As Shahrukh did an almost impossible task to find the timing (4 off 6), Tewatia, with an unbeaten 11 off 10*, was not enough.
6. Rashid Khan - 6/10
The ever-reliable Afghan figure was 1/29 as he got the big wicket of Prabhsimran. He came up short against Connolly when he needed it most.
7. Prasidh Krishna - 9/10
By quickly removing Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis, he triggered PBKS's collapse. So far, he has been the best performer of GT.
8. Ashok Sharma - 4/10
He got a mixed debut, as he picked up Marco Jansen’s wicket, but conceded 31 in his 3 overs.
