Connolly Seeks Glory at Marsh’s Legacy Home: IPL 2026 Spotlight on Punjab Kings

All-rounder Cooper Connolly has long sought to replicate the batting style of his Western Australian senior, Shaun Marsh. Both are graceful left-handed batters, displaying similar stances and fluid cover drives. Mitch Marsh, Shaun’s younger brother, noticed these resemblances when he first saw Connolly at the Perth nets, describing Connolly’s cover drive as reminiscent of Shaun’s, albeit with a more free-flowing touch.

Destiny seems to have aligned for Connolly as he embarks on his inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign with Punjab Kings (formerly Kings XI Punjab), the same team with which Shaun Marsh commenced his IPL journey in 2008. Shaun was the top scorer of the 2008 season, tallying 616 runs, a performance that vaulted him to international recognition and secured him a spot on the Australian national team.

Connolly was acquired by Punjab Kings for Rs. 3 crore at the IPL 2026 Auction, following in Shaun’s footsteps as he prepares for his first IPL experience. Reflecting on this, Connolly said, “I’m sure I’ll chat with Shaun about his time at Punjab and his experiences, what worked for him, as he’s left a legacy worldwide.”

Unlike Shaun, who donned the Australian cap post his IPL début, Connolly enters the IPL having already represented Australia. He made his debut in all three formats within five months, starting from September 2024, and recently played a pivotal role in Australia’s ODI series win over India, scoring a decisive fifty in a challenging chase in Adelaide.

At just 22 years old, Connolly acknowledges the whirlwind journey of his past few years, expressing pride at representing his country across formats yet eager to continue his cricket journey. Currently active in the Big Bash League, Connolly has been delivering strong performances with consecutive fifties for Perth Scorchers. Despite batting at No. 3 for the Scorchers, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer envisions him as a finisher due to his strong temperament and ability to close out games.

Connolly embraces the challenge, confident in his versatility to adapt to any batting position from his Big Bash experience. His useful left-arm spin further enhances his skill set, having claimed 13 wickets from 37 T20 games with a steady economy rate of 7.65. He aims to refine his bowling during the IPL, keen to learn from Punjab Kings teammates.

One aspect Connolly is particularly excited about is working with Punjab Kings coach and Australian legend Ricky Ponting. He looks forward to receiving insights and refining his batting technique under Ponting’s guidance.

Published on December 22, 2025.