Punjab Kings opened their TATA IPL 2026 campaign with a three-wicket win over Gujarat Titans. Speaking on’ ‘Amul Cricket Live’, JioStar experts Aakash Chopra and Sanjay Bangar spoke about Punjab’s strong start, highlighting their disciplined bowling and leadership, while also analysing Cooper Connolly’s composed knock and the areas Gujarat Titans need to improve.
Speaking on ‘Amul Cricket Live’, JioStar expert Aakash Chopra reflected on Punjab Kings’ winning start to the season:
“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. 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.”
On Gujarat Titans’ performance:
“For Gujarat Titans, the top three will have to fire because they are not giving themselves the opportunity to figure out a different way. Not many would believe it, but Glenn Phillips’ 25 is actually his highest score in the IPL so far. You would want him to contribute more consistently, and Washington Sundar also needs to score at a quicker rate because he seemed a bit stuck. They have continued with Shahrukh Khan, but I felt Kumar Kushagra also had a case for selection. GT need to rethink how their 4, 5, and 6 are structured. Even the bowling plans were puzzling. Siraj still had two overs left when the game was almost done, and Prasidh Krishna was brought in quite late. Overall, Shubman Gill’s captaincy also left a bit to be desired.”
Speaking on ‘Amul Cricket Live’, JioStar expert Sanjay Bangar analysed Cooper Connolly’s batting approach during the chase:
“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. 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.”
