Punjab Kings Triumph Over Gujarat Titans Despite Injury Concerns

The Punjab Kings started their IPL 2026 campaign with a thrilling win against the Gujarat Titans, but the match was marred by an injury to captain Shreyas Iyer. As fans await updates on his condition, the team looks to build on this victory in their upcoming match against CSK. Key performances from Vijaykumar Vyshak and Cooper Connolly were crucial in securing the win, despite a late comeback attempt from the Titans. Read on for a detailed recap of the match and Iyer's injury status.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 1, 2026, 00:38 IST

Punjab Kings Kick Off IPL 2026 with a Victory

The Punjab Kings launched their IPL 2026 season with an impressive victory, overcoming the Gujarat Titans by three wickets with five balls remaining. However, the win was overshadowed by concerns regarding their captain, Shreyas Iyer, who sustained a hand injury during the match. With their next encounter against CSK just around the corner, fans are anxious about Iyer's fitness. The captain offered a vague update, stating that his hand felt 'nice,' but further evaluations would determine the extent of the injury. 'All I can say is that it feels nice. It’s the same as before. I don’t want to jinx anything. I just want to stay positive and hope for the best,' Iyer mentioned during the post-match interview.

During the game, a hit from Cooper Connolly struck Iyer's hand, causing him significant pain, and he required bandaging after scoring just 18 runs.

Punjab Kings Secure a Close Victory

Winning the toss, Punjab Kings chose to bowl first, successfully limiting Gujarat Titans to a modest total of 162 runs for 6 wickets. The PBKS bowlers maintained tight control over the GT batsmen, with only Shubman Gill managing to find some rhythm, scoring 39 runs. Jos Buttler continued his struggle from the T20 World Cup 2026, contributing a mere 38 runs off 31 balls.

Vijaykumar Vyshak was the standout bowler for PBKS, claiming three wickets, while Yuzvendra Chahal added two to his tally. Following an early wicket, the partnership between Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, and Cooper Connolly flourished, accumulating 76 runs for the second wicket. Shreyas Iyer also contributed to the momentum with his brief innings of 18 runs. However, GT made a late comeback by taking five quick wickets, with Prasidh Krishna claiming three of them, putting PBKS in a precarious position. Nevertheless, Connolly remained composed, finishing with a solid score of 72 runs.