Punjab Kings (PBKS) bought Australian all-rounder Cooper Connolly for INR 3 crore ahead of IPL 2026. Skipper Shreyas Iyer believes the young player will fit perfectly into their set-up.
In a media release, Shreyas said: “Honestly, he wasn’t there in our minds at the start, but as we brainstormed and narrowed down our options, we realised he fit the position perfectly.”
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) started the bidding for Connolly, but PBKS had the last laugh. The 22-year-old will be making his debut in the IPL. He has the experience of playing four seasons in the Big Bash League (BBL), scoring 636 runs from 26 matches at an average of 39.75, which included three fifties at a strike rate of 140.39. The left-hander’s best season came in 2024/25, when he scored 351 runs across 10 matches at an average of 50.14.
Connolly made his debut for Australia in a T20I match against Scotland in Edinburgh on September 7, 2024. Since then, he has played six T20Is for Australia, scoring 13 runs in two innings and also picking up one wicket.
Shreyas added that Connolly has qualities that are essential in the IPL.
“He has a great temperament and the ability to finish games. Those characteristics matter a lot in the IPL. However, we didn’t think we would get him for 3; we actually predicted his price would be much higher.”
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