Table of Contents
IPL 2026 Match 4 Result: Cooper Connolly’s Dream Debut Powers PBKS to Thrilling 3-Wicket Win Over GT
The floodlights were glowing at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, the crowd was roaring, and a 22-year-old Australian all-rounder was about to write his name in IPL folklore. On March 31, 2026, in what turned out to be one of the most heart-stopping games of the young season, IPL 2026 Match 4 Result is Punjab Kings edged Gujarat Titans by 3 wickets in a last-over thriller that had fans on the edge of their seats till the very last ball.
Chasing 163, PBKS looked in total control at 110/2 before collapsing dramatically to 118/6. Enter Cooper Connolly – on IPL debut – who produced a match-winning 72 not out off just 44 balls, laced with five fours and five sixes, to guide his side home with five balls to spare. If you love nail-biting chases, debut heroics, and pure cricket drama, this IPL 2026 Match 4 result delivered everything.
Shreyas Iyer’s decision to bowl first paid rich dividends early, but Prasidh Krishna’s fiery spell and some middle-order jitters made it a proper contest. Let’s break down every twist, every six, and every turning point in this unforgettable opener for PBKS.
Match Overview: A Classic IPL Thriller at Mullanpur IPL 2026 Match 4 Result
The stage was set under clear North Indian skies. PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to field, banking on the dew factor and his strong pace attack. Gujarat Titans, led by Shubman Gill, posted a competitive but gettable 162/6 on a pitch that offered grip for spinners and bounce for quicks.
What followed was pure entertainment. PBKS raced to 83/1 in the powerplay and middle overs but then suffered a dramatic collapse. Cooper Connolly, the debutant, stayed calm, smashed boundaries at will, and finished the job like a seasoned pro. The win gave PBKS their first two points of IPL 2026 and sent a strong message to the rest of the league.
Full Scorecard – Gujarat Titans Innings (162/6 in 20 overs)
Batting
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sai Sudharsan | c Iyer b Jansen | 13 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 118.18 |
| Shubman Gill (c) | c Connolly b Chahal | 39 | 27 | 6 | 0 | 144.44 |
| Jos Buttler (†) | c Bartlett b Chahal | 38 | 33 | 3 | 2 | 115.15 |
| Glenn Phillips | c Jansen b Vyshak | 25 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 147.05 |
| Washington Sundar | c Arshdeep b Vyshak | 18 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 112.50 |
| M Shahrukh Khan | c Arshdeep b Vyshak | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Rahul Tewatia | not out | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 110.00 |
| Rashid Khan | not out | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Extras: 14 (lb 2, w 11, nb 1) Fall of Wickets: 1-37 (Sudharsan, 3.4 ov), 2-83 (Gill, 9.3), 3-119 (Phillips, 13.6), 4-129 (Buttler, 15.4), 5-144 (Sundar, 18.1), 6-150 (Shahrukh, 18.6)
Bowling (PBKS)
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 10.50 |
| Xavier Bartlett | 4 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Marco Jansen | 4 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 5.00 |
| Vijaykumar Vyshak | 4 | 0 | 34 | 3 | 8.50 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | 4 | 0 | 28 | 2 | 7.00 |
Vijaykumar Vyshak was the pick with 3/34, while Chahal’s two wickets in the middle overs slowed GT’s momentum.
Full Scorecard – Punjab Kings Innings (165/7 in 19.1 overs)
Batting
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priyansh Arya | c Ashok Sharma b Rabada | 7 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 87.50 |
| Prabhsimran Singh (†) | c Prasidh b Rashid Khan | 37 | 24 | 1 | 4 | 154.17 |
| Cooper Connolly | not out | 72 | 44 | 5 | 5 | 163.64 |
| Shreyas Iyer (c) | c Sundar b Prasidh Krishna | 18 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 163.64 |
| Nehal Wadhera | c Gill b Washington Sundar | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Shashank Singh | c †Buttler b Prasidh Krishna | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Marcus Stoinis | c Rashid b Prasidh Krishna | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Marco Jansen | c Gill b Ashok Sharma | 9 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 90.00 |
| Xavier Bartlett | not out | 11 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 220.00 |
Extras: 4 (w 4) Fall of Wickets: 1-7 (Arya, 1.2), 2-83 (Prabhsimran, 9.3), 3-110 (Iyer, 12.1), 4-113 (Wadhera, 13.1), 5-118 (Shashank, 14.2), 6-118 (Stoinis, 14.4), 7-144 (Jansen, 17.4)
Bowling (GT)
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammed Siraj | 2 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 7.50 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 3 | 0 | 34 | 1 | 11.33 |
| Ashok Sharma | 3 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 10.33 |
| Rashid Khan | 4 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 7.25 |
| Washington Sundar | 3.1 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 8.52 |
| Prasidh Krishna | 4 | 0 | 29 | 3 | 7.25 |
Prasidh Krishna’s 3/29 almost turned the game, but Connolly was simply unstoppable.
Key Partnerships That Shaped the Game
- PBKS 2nd wicket (Prabhsimran & Connolly): 76 runs in 8.1 overs – the foundation of the chase.
- GT 2nd wicket (Gill & Buttler): 46 runs – steady rebuilding after early loss.
- GT 3rd wicket (Buttler & Phillips): 36 runs in quick time – the most entertaining passage for Titans.
- Check ESPNcricinfo full scorecard
Ball-by-Ball Highlights: The Moments That Mattered
Powerplay Drama (Overs 1-6): Priyansh Arya smashed a six off Rabada but fell soon after. Prabhsimran and Connolly then exploded – three sixes in one over off Rabada turned the momentum.
Middle-Overs Pressure (Overs 7-15): Connolly reached his fifty in 34 balls. But then came the collapse. Shreyas Iyer (18 off 11) departed to Prasidh’s first ball. Three more quick wickets followed – 110/2 became 118/6 in just 14 balls. The crowd went silent.
The Connolly Masterclass (Overs 16-19.1): Jansen hit a six but fell. Xavier Bartlett walked in as impact sub and smashed a six. In the final over, Washington Sundar bowled a flat delivery on the stumps – Connolly backed away and smashed it through covers for four. Game over. The debutant punched the air as fireworks lit up the sky.
Player Ratings & Fantasy Points from IPL 2026 Match 4 Result
- Cooper Connolly (PBKS) – 10/10 (72* off 44, 5×4, 5×6) – Fantasy: 112 points
- Prasidh Krishna (GT) – 9/10 (4-0-29-3) – Fantasy: 78 points
- Vijaykumar Vyshak (PBKS) – 8.5/10 (4-0-34-3) – Fantasy: 65 points
- Shubman Gill (GT) – 7/10 (39 off 27)
- Yuzvendra Chahal (PBKS) – 8/10 (4-0-28-2)
Connolly’s impact was off the charts – he single-handedly won the game.
IPL 2026 Match 4 Result, Match Analysis & Turning Points
The biggest turning point was the mini-collapse from 110/2 to 118/6. GT’s death bowling looked lethal until Connolly showed nerves of steel. Prasidh Krishna’s three wickets in the middle overs almost scripted a comeback, but the dew and Connolly’s clean hitting proved too much.
PBKS’s spinners (Chahal & Vyshak) restricted GT brilliantly on a slowish pitch. For GT, the inability to accelerate in the last five overs (they scored just 32 runs) proved costly.
Points Table Impact After Match 4
PBKS: 2 points, NRR +0.509 GT: 0 points, NRR -0.509
Watch Official IPL website
Player Ratings & Fantasy Points: Who Stole the Show in Mullanpur?
In a match full of twists, one debutant stood tall while experienced campaigners on both sides delivered mixed performances. Here’s my expert rating (out of 10) for the key performers from PBKS vs GT – IPL 2026 Match 4, along with their Dream11/Fantasy Cricket points (standard scoring).
| Rank | Player | Team | Performance | Rating (/10) | Fantasy Points | Why This Rating? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cooper Connolly | PBKS | 72* (44) [5×4, 5×6] | 10 | 112 | Match-winning debut knock under pressure. Hit the winning boundary and kept calm during collapse. Absolute hero! |
| 2 | Prasidh Krishna | GT | 4-0-29-3 | 9 | 78 | Terrific death and middle-over bowling. Almost single-handedly dragged GT back into the game with three big wickets. |
| 3 | Vijaykumar Vyshak | PBKS | 4-0-34-3 | 8.5 | 65 | Excellent variation and control. Broke GT’s momentum with key scalps including Buttler and Phillips. |
| 4 | Yuzvendra Chahal | PBKS | 4-0-28-2 | 8 | 52 | Crafty as always. Dismissed Gill and Buttler at crucial stages, restricting GT effectively. |
| 5 | Prabhsimran Singh | PBKS | 37 (24) [1×4, 4×6] | 7.5 | 68 | Explosive start with Connolly. His quickfire 37 set the perfect platform for the chase. |
| 6 | Shubman Gill | GT | 39 (27) [6×4] | 7 | 45 | Looked in good touch but got out at the wrong time. Needed a bigger score as captain. |
| 7 | Jos Buttler | GT | 38 (33) [3×4, 2×6] | 6.5 | 52 | Steady but couldn’t accelerate enough in the middle overs. |
| 8 | Xavier Bartlett | PBKS | 11* (5) [1×6] + 0/36 | 6 | 28 | Came in as impact sub and finished strongly with the bat. |
| 9 | Shreyas Iyer | PBKS | 18 (11) [2×6] | 5.5 | 32 | Quick cameo but fell when PBKS needed stability. Good captaincy at the toss though. |
| 10 | Washington Sundar | GT | 18 (16) + 1/27 | 5 | 38 | Useful lower-order contribution and a wicket, but expensive in the end. |
Note: Fantasy points are approximate based on standard Dream11 scoring (batting bonus for 50+, bowling economy, etc.). Connolly’s impact was massive — he alone changed the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who won IPL 2026 Match 4?
Punjab Kings beat Gujarat Titans by 3 wickets.
2. What was Cooper Connolly’s score on debut?
72 not out off 44 balls – Player of the Match.
3. How many wickets did Prasidh Krishna take?
Three crucial wickets for 29 runs.
4. Was the pitch difficult for batting?
Yes – slow and gripping, which favoured spinners in the middle overs.
5. Who took the most wickets in the match?
Vijaykumar Vyshak and Prasidh Krishna (3 each).
6. When is the next PBKS match?
Check the official IPL 2026 schedule for exact date.
7. Was this PBKS’s first win of the season?
Yes – a perfect start at home.
8. Where can I watch full highlights?
Final Thoughts: A Night to Remember in New Chandigarh
The IPL 2026 Match 4 result wasn’t just another win – it was a statement. Cooper Connolly announced himself to the world in the most spectacular fashion, while Punjab Kings showed they have the character to win from any situation. Gujarat Titans will rue the middle-order collapse and the missed opportunities with the bat, but they have the firepower to bounce back strongly.
If you’re a cricket fan who lives for these kinds of thrillers, this match had it all – big sixes, dramatic wickets, and a debut hero. Who’s your Player of the Match? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to check our full IPL 2026 coverage for more excitement!
Cricket fans, if you enjoyed this nail-biting IPL 2026 Match 4 result, explore more on Crictoss.com. Read our complete IPL 2026 Points Table & Standings and don’t forget to check Crictoss.com for all the big moments from the season.
Jai Hind, and let the games continue! 🏏🔥
