Australia’s rising left-arm spin bowling all-rounder, Cooper Connolly, views his maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) stint with Punjab Kings in 2026 as a crucial opportunity to sharpen his skills by learning from elite spinners in the competition.
Developing Skills
“I think I’m still developing my game with the ball. But it’s super exciting. I think I’m just going to try to develop my bowling as much as I can. What’s happened over the last three years has been a big factor in me trying to get my bowling up to speed. I feel like it’s starting to slowly become a threat. It’ll be nice to learn off some guys there and watch how some go about it. But it’s something I’ve been working hard on and looking forward to getting stuck in and challenging myself,” Connolly said in a virtual round table organized by the franchise.
Auction Highlights
Punjab Kings acquired Connolly’s services for ₹3 crore in last week’s auction in Abu Dhabi, following his match-winning unbeaten 61 off 53 balls in Adelaide against a visiting Indian side in October, where he guided Australia from a precarious 132/4 to chase down 265 and secure a series win.
Experience in India
This wasn’t Connolly’s first experience related to India. He has modeled his batting on former batter Shaun Marsh, who played for PBKS from 2008 to 2017 in the IPL. Connolly toured India with the Australia A side in September-October, where he excelled in both red-ball and white-ball games in Lucknow and Kanpur. He also attended a 12-day training camp organized by Cricket Australia at the MRF Academy in Chennai in 2023. Connolly acknowledged that his experience in Indian conditions would be valuable in IPL 2026.
“It’s very valuable. I think I’ve been to India a couple of times now, and any chance we get to go over there is always a chance to understand those conditions. I always take a lot of learnings. It’s not as fast and bouncy as Australia, but just looking at the different pitches and wickets that can spin. I’ve taken a lot of learnings, and there’s still going to be time for me to learn more about the conditions when I’m over there. But it’s just trying to understand it quickly so that I get the best out of myself when I’m out there in the middle,” he added.
Rapid Ascent in Cricket
Connolly, who captained Australia in the 2022 ICC Under-19 Men’s World Cup in the West Indies, has seen a rapid ascent through international cricket. He remains grateful for the chances coming his way and is keen to maximize the opportunities to continue his impressive trajectory.
Although Connolly faces stiff competition for a spot in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad given the team’s depth, his all-round abilities and the tournament’s location in India and Sri Lanka could work in his favor.
“Everything’s happened fast over the last three years; it’s been pretty surreal. I’ve had a couple of moments recently where I’ve looked back at what’s happened. It’s obviously an honour to represent your country in all three formats. I’m still 22, and there’s a lot of cricket for me to play. So, every opportunity I get at the moment, I’m just trying to make the most of it and put my best foot forward.”
Eager to Learn from Iyer
Connolly is particularly eager to work under PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer, whom he briefly met during the Australia A tour of India. “When I was over there for the Australia vs India ‘A’ games, I spoke to him a little bit. Just watching him go about his work, he’s a world-class player. I’m keen to pick his brains a little bit and understand what makes him successful and how he goes about it. I’m sure those communications will happen once I’m over there. I’m looking forward to picking his brains. It’s going to be an enjoyable experience.”
Connolly concluded, “There are some guys that I haven’t met yet, so I’m looking forward to getting over there and meeting them all and trying to pick up everyone’s brains on how to play in Indian conditions. It’s going to be an unbelievable tournament.”