Gujarat Titans (GT) started their IPL 2026 campaign with a loss to Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the New Chandigarh Stadium on March 31. PBKS registered a three-wicket victory over the Gujarat Titans at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium.
Contributions from Shubman Gill (39), Jos Buttler (38), and Glenn Phillips (25) took GT to 162/6 after they were asked to bat first. In response, PBKS’ charge was led by Copper Connolly, who made 72* on his IPL debut to take his team to a three-wicket win.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra talked about Punjab Kings’ winning start.
“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 center 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," JioStar expert Aakash Chopra was quoted as saying on Star Sports’ ‘Cricket Live.'
He was critical of the Gujarat Titans’ batting, suggesting several changes to their combination. He was also not happy with Shubman Gill’s captaincy during the match.
“For Gujarat Titans, the top three will have to fire because they are not allowing themselves 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 Shah Rukh Khan, but I felt Kumar Kushagra also had a case for selection. GT needs 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,” Chopra added.
Punjab Kings will next face Chennai Super Kings on April 3rd in Chennai, while Gujarat Titans will play their first home game in Ahmedabad against Rajasthan Royals on April 4.
