IPL 2026: Cooper Connolly finds ‘beauty’ in grind of three formats
Australian allrounder Cooper Connolly, 22, is making a strong IPL debut for Punjab Kings by sticking to his strengths and letting the game come to him. His confident approach, evident in an unbeaten 72 in his first match, has seen him aggregate 119 runs at a strike rate over 152.
CHANDIGARH: Cooper Connolly, the 22-year-old Australian allrounder who has turned heads in his debut IPL for the Punjab Kings, embodies a rare blend of youthful swagger and quiet introspection. In a format that prizes power above all, Connolly is sticking to his guns, letting the game come to him rather than chasing the big hits every ball. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
SUBSCRIBE NOW! “Each player has their own strengths, and I’m pretty keen to stick to my own strengths,” Connolly said during an interaction on the JioStar Press Room, his voice carrying the easy confidence of someone who has already shouldered pressure in all three international formats. “Obviously power is becoming a big part of T20 cricket, but there’re other ways to go around it (too).
And that’s going to be me sort of understanding and learning, and I’m confident I’m going to get around that. ” That approach shone through in Mullanpur in Punjab’s opening game of the 2026 IPL against Gujarat Titans, where Connolly walked in at No. 3 amid a collapse —PBKS slipping from 110/2 to 118/6 chasing Gujarat Titans’ 162/6 — and hit an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls.
It was the fifth-highest IPL debut score, sealing a three-wicket win. Across four matches so far, Connolly has aggregated 119 runs at a strike-rate north of 152, including a quickfire 36 off 22 against Chennai Super Kings. “I’m pretty happy with the tempo of my game at the moment because that’s allowing me to perform the best that I can for this team (Punjab Kings),” he added, the satisfaction palpable.