Punjab Kings just managed to edge past Gujarat Titans at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali on 31 March 2026. They chased down the 163-run target with their last recognized batting pair still out there and only five balls to go. After GT posted 162/6, it actually looked like they had enough for a long time during the chase. PBKS finished on 165/7, but the scoreline makes the win look much more comfortable than it really was. A messy collapse from 83/1 to 144/7 nearly handed the game to Gujarat on a silver platter.

Here are the five key moments where the Titans really should have taken control:

1. Shubman Gill’s Exit Stalled the Momentum

Gill got out for 39 off 27 after putting on a solid 46-run stand with Jos Buttler. At that point, GT looked like they were cruising. The problem was that the innings never really shifted into a higher gear after Chahal dismissed Gill. Even though Buttler made 38, he used up too many dot balls and couldn't quite capitalize on the platform Gill had built.

2. Waiting Too Long to Bring on Prasidh Krishna

Prasidh Krishna was easily the best bowler on the night, finishing with 3 for 29. However, GT didn't bring him into the game until the 12th over. By then, Cooper Connolly was already seeing the ball like a planet. If Krishna had started his spell earlier, he could have put a real dent in Punjab’s aggressive start when they were most vulnerable.

3. Rashid Khan’s Wicket Didn't Lead to a Breakthrough

Rashid Khan got rid of Prabhsimran Singh (37 off 24) in the 10th over, exactly when Punjab seemed to be running away with it. But instead of the wheels falling off, Connolly (who was on 38 then) just soaked up the pressure and kept going. Rashid finished his four overs, giving up 29 runs without causing a middle-order collapse, meaning GT’s biggest weapon couldn't find the killer blow.

4. Failing to Kill the Game After Stoinis and Shashank Fell

When Marcus Stoinis (0 off 2) and Shashank Singh (4 off 5) both fell cheaply around the 15th over, PBKS were reeling at 144/7. Momentum had swung totally in Gujarat's favour. Washington Sundar and Prasidh Krishna were bowling well, and GT just needed one more wicket to finish it. Instead, they let Connolly and Xavier Bartlett (11 off 5) put on an unbeaten 21-run stand to wrap things up.

5. The Unstoppable Cooper Connolly

No matter what GT threw at him, nobody could find a way to get Connolly out while he still had partners at the other end. He smashed 5 sixes and 5 fours in a 44-ball blitz and didn't really give the bowlers a sniff of a chance. In the end, his individual brilliance made all of GT’s other opportunities irrelevant.