Punjab Kings (PBKS) legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal shared a crucial update on captain Shreyas Iyer after the stylish batter suffered a hand injury during their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 opener clash against the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh.
The incident happened during Punjab’s run chase when Iyer was standing at the non-striker’s end. He was struck on the wrist, which immediately raised concerns among the team. The physio staff rushed onto the field to check on him as he seemed to be in pain. Despite the discomfort, Iyer decided to continue batting for a while. However, his stay at the crease was cut short when Prasidh Krishna dismissed him after scoring 18 runs off 11 balls. His quick innings included two sixes and added some momentum to the chase.
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Yuzvendra Chahal on Shreyas Iyer's injury
After the match, Chahal reassured everyone that there is no serious injury and that Iyer is doing completely fine. Speaking at the post-match press conference, he made it clear that there is nothing to worry about.
“He’s fine, he’s absolutely fine. Nothing is there,” Chahal said, putting fans at ease.
Chahal lauds Cooper Connolly
Chahal also spoke highly of young Cooper Connolly, who had an outstanding debut and was named Player of the Match. Batting at number 3, Connolly played a crucial knock of 72 runs from 44 balls, hitting five fours and five sixes. His innings played a big role in helping Punjab Kings successfully chase down the target of 163 runs with five balls still remaining, sealing a three-wicket victory.
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Praising Connolly’s performance, Chahal highlighted the youngster’s mindset and maturity. He said that even though Connolly is quite young, he showed great awareness of the match situation and handled the pressure really well.
“I think he is around 20 or maybe a little older, but you can clearly see the hunger in him. Coming into your first match and facing a situation like this, and then helping the team win while batting at number 3, it shows how strong he is mentally,” Chahal said.
He further added that Connolly understood his role perfectly. He knew that staying till the end was important and that he had to finish the game for his team. According to Chahal, this kind of thinking reflects a high level of maturity, which is a very positive sign for the team going forward.
“He knows what the situation demands. He understands that if he stays till the end, he has to take responsibility and finish the match. That kind of clarity is very important, and it’s great for the team. The way he is batting, I believe he can turn out to be one of the best finds of this season,” Chahal added.
After winning the IPL 2026 opener clash, Punjab Kings (PBKS) will now face Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their second clash which will take place on April 3 at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.