Match Summary: PBKS vs. GT (Match 4, March 31, 2026)
In a high-octane season opener for both sides at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, the Punjab Kings secured a dramatic victory over the Gujarat Titans by 3 wickets with just 5 balls to spare.
The Scorecard
- Gujarat Titans: 162/6 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 39, Jos Buttler 38; Vijaykumar Vyshak 3/34, Yuzvendra Chahal 2/28)
- Punjab Kings: 165/7 in 19.1 overs (Cooper Connolly 72*, Shreyas Iyer 22; Rashid Khan 2/30)
- Result: Punjab Kings won by 3 wickets.
Key Highlights
- Cooper Connolly’s Dream Debut: The young Australian all-rounder, making his IPL debut, played a masterclass innings of 72 off 44 balls*. Stepping in during the second over, he anchored the chase and finished the game in style with a boundary in the final over.
- Arshdeep Singh’s “Longest” Over: In a rare off-day for the Indian spearhead, Arshdeep bowled an 11-ball final over for PBKS, including four wides and a no-ball. He finished with figures of 0/42, joining an unwanted list of bowlers with the longest overs in IPL history.
- Chahal’s Spin Masterclass: Veteran leggie Yuzvendra Chahal proved his worth yet again, stifling the GT middle order with crucial wickets to keep the target manageable at 162.
- GT’s Powerplay Dominance: Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler gave GT a flying start, racing to 35 runs in the first three overs before Marco Jansen provided the breakthrough by dismissing Sai Sudharsan.
As of Tuesday, March 31, 2026, there is a slight correction to the schedule: the match taking place today is Punjab Kings (PBKS) vs. Gujarat Titans (GT). The encounter between Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is officially scheduled for later in the month on April 19, 2026.