PBKS vs GT TATA IPL 2026 :The TATA IPL 2026 continues to deliver high-octane drama, and the 4th match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Gujarat Titans (GT) was no exception. In a game that swung like a pendulum until the very last over, the Punjab Kings managed to secure a 3-wicket victory at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium.
Chasing a modest target of 163, PBKS relied on the explosive power of Cooper Connolly and the tactical leadership of Shreyas Iyer to cross the finish line with five balls to spare. Despite a valiant bowling effort from Prasidh Krishna, who claimed three wickets, the Titans couldn’t defend their total against a deep Punjab batting lineup.
PBKS vs GT TATA IPL 2026 Match Overview: The Battle of Mullanpur
| Feature | Details |
| Match | TATA IPL 2026, Match 04 |
| Teams | Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans |
| Date | March 31, 2026 |
| Toss | Punjab Kings (Elected to Bowl) |
| GT Score | 162/6 (20 Overs) |
| PBKS Score | 165/7 (19.1 Overs) |
| Result | Punjab Kings won by 3 wickets |
| Player of the Match | Vijaykumar Vyshak (3/34) |
Winning the toss, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer elected to bowl first, a decision that seemed justified given the early moisture on the pitch. The Gujarat Titans, led by Shubman Gill, struggled to find momentum early on. While Gill and Jos Buttler provided a steady start, the middle order failed to accelerate against a disciplined PBKS bowling attack.
Yuzvendra Chahal and Vijaykumar Vyshak were the stars with the ball for Punjab. Chahal’s deceptive leg-spin accounted for the big wickets of Gill and Buttler, while Vyshak dismantled the lower-middle order, finishing with impressive figures of 3/34. Gujarat ended their 20 overs at 162/6, a score that many felt was 15–20 runs short of a winning total.
In response, PBKS had a shaky start, losing Priyansh Arya early. However, Prabhsimran Singh and Cooper Connolly stabilized the innings. Connolly, in particular, was the aggressor, smashing 72 off just 44 deliveries. Despite a late-order collapse triggered by Prasidh Krishna’s triple strike, Xavier Bartlett and Connolly ensured there were no further hiccups, guiding Punjab to their first win of the season.
Detailed Player-to-Player Performance (The Match Toolbar)
Gujarat Titans Batting Performance (1st Innings: 162/6 in 20 Overs)
| Batter | Status | 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 (wk) | c Bartlett b Chahal | 38 | 33 | 3 | 2 | 115.15 |
| Glenn Phillips | c Jansen b Vyshak | 25 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 147.06 |
| Washington Sundar | c Arshdeep b Vyshak | 18 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 112.50 |
| 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 |
Bowling Performance (PBKS)
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | NB | WD | ECO |
| Arshdeep Singh | 4.0 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 10.50 |
| Xavier Bartlett | 4.0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9.00 |
| Marco Jansen | 4.0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5.00 |
| Vijaykumar Vyshak | 4.0 | 0 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8.50 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | 4.0 | 0 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7.00 |
Punjab Kings Batting Performance (2nd Innings: 165/7 in 19.1 Overs)
| Batter | Status | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Priyansh Arya | c Sharma b Rabada | 7 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 87.50 |
| Prabhsimran Singh | c Krishna b Rashid | 37 | 24 | 1 | 4 | 154.17 |
| Cooper Connolly | Not Out | 72 | 44 | 5 | 5 | 163.64 |
| Shreyas Iyer (c) | c Sundar b Krishna | 18 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 163.64 |
| Nehal Wadhera | c Gill b Sundar | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Shashank Singh | c Buttler b Krishna | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Marcus Stoinis | c Rashid b Krishna | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Marco Jansen | c Gill b Sharma | 9 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 90.00 |
| Xavier Bartlett | Not Out | 11 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 220.00 |
Bowling Performance (GT)
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | NB | WD | ECO |
| Mohammed Siraj | 2.0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.50 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 3.0 | 0 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11.30 |
| Ashok Sharma | 3.0 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 10.30 |
| Rashid Khan | 4.0 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7.25 |
| Washington Sundar | 3.1 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8.50 |
| Prasidh Krishna | 4.0 | 0 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7.25 |
Detailed Innings Analysis
GT Innings: A Story of Missed Opportunities
The Titans’ innings was a classic case of getting starts but failing to capitalize. Shubman Gill looked in exquisite touch, finding the fence six times in his 27-ball stay. However, his dismissal, caught by Connolly off Chahal, broke the back of the Powerplay momentum. Jos Buttler played a relatively uncharacteristic knock, striking at just 115, as the PBKS bowlers squeezed the run flow in the middle overs.
Marco Jansen was the most economical bowler for Punjab, conceding only 20 runs in his quota. His ability to build pressure allowed Vijaykumar Vyshak to reap the rewards at the other end. Vyshak’s clever variations accounted for Glenn Phillips and Washington Sundar, preventing a late-over flourish that Gujarat so desperately needed.
PBKS Innings: The Cooper Connolly Show
Chasing 163, PBKS needed a hero, and they found one in Cooper Connolly. While the departure of Priyansh Arya early on caused some concern, Connolly took the game by the scruff of its neck. His partnership with Prabhsimran Singh (37 off 24) dismantled the GT pace attack. Connolly was particularly harsh on Kagiso Rabada and Ashok Sharma, clearing the boundary five times.
The match took a dramatic turn in the 17th over when Prasidh Krishna returned for his second spell. In a display of elite death bowling, Krishna removed Shreyas Iyer, Shashank Singh, and Marcus Stoinis in quick succession. Suddenly, PBKS were 7 down and staring at defeat. However, the calm head of Connolly and a crucial cameo from Xavier Bartlett (11 off 5) ensured that Punjab crossed the line in the penultimate over.
Key Takeaways for Both Teams
Punjab Kings
Deep Batting Lineup: Even after losing 7 wickets, the presence of Bartlett and Jansen down the order provides PBKS with a safety net.
Spin Dominance: Chahal and the supporting bowlers showed they can dominate the middle-overs, a crucial factor on Indian pitches.
Connolly’s Emergence: Finding a consistent match-winner at the top/middle order has been PBKS’s struggle for years; Connolly looks like the answer.
Gujarat Titans
Batting Intent: The middle order, specifically Shahrukh Khan and Washington Sundar, needs to find a way to accelerate when the set batters get out.
Death Bowling: While Prasidh Krishna was brilliant, the support from Rabada and Siraj was lacking today.
Rashid Factor: Rashid Khan was economical but didn’t pick up the multiple wickets usually expected of him to break a chase.
Conclusion
The 4th match of IPL 2026 has set a very high bar for the rest of the tournament. Punjab Kings will be delighted with the 2 points, especially considering how close the game became in the final stages. For Gujarat Titans, it’s back to the drawing board to address their batting consistency.
With Shreyas Iyer leading from the front and young talents like Cooper Connolly stepping up, the Punjab Kings are looking like a formidable force this season. Gujarat, on the other hand, will hope that their superstar bowling lineup can find more support from the batters in the upcoming fixtures.
Final Result: Punjab Kings won by 3 wickets.
Man of the Match (Predicted): Cooper Connolly (72* runs and a crucial catch).
The next match in the TATA IPL 2026 is Match 5, featuring the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) taking on the Delhi Capitals (DC).
Match Details
Teams: Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals
Date: Today, Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM IST
Venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow