Cooper Connolly is set to return to action for Punjab Kings in their IPL clash against Delhi Capitals on Saturday, with spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule confirming the 22-year-old all-rounder’s availability. Connolly had taken a short trip back to Australia for scans on a back issue, while Cricket Australia monitored his bowling readiness.
Quick facts
- Cooper Connolly will be available for Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals on Saturday.
- He had returned to Australia for back scans, with Cricket Australia overseeing his bowling fitness.
- Bahutule said Connolly is “ready and raring to go.”
- In his debut IPL season, Connolly has scored 223 runs at a strike rate of 163.97.
- His knock highlights include 72 not out and an 87.
- Despite being a spin-bowling all-rounder, he has not bowled in the tournament yet.
- Punjab are leading the table and have been consistent across departments.
- Bahutule wants improvement in the new-ball phase.
- He believes Punjab’s batting depth can handle matches where batters fail to get starts.
Speaking on the eve of the PBKS match against DC, Bahutule said the break was brief and that Connolly has come back prepared. “Yes, he’s very much available. He just went there and has come back. He’s ready and raring to go,” he added.
Connolly has been one of Punjab’s key contributors in his first IPL season, with 223 runs scored at a strike rate of 163.97. His season has featured standout innings including 72 not out and an 87, helping the franchise establish itself as the top side.
Even so, Bahutule’s comments also underscored an interesting detail about Connolly’s tournament so far. The spin-bowling all-rounder has not yet been used to bowl in the competition, meaning his impact so far has come purely with the bat.
Punjab’s consistency and areas to sharpen
Punjab, who finished as runners-up last season, have once again looked remarkably steady, maintaining performance across facets of the game. Bahutule pointed to that balance as a reason for their climb, while still insisting there are clear opportunities to get better.
One area he highlighted was the new-ball phase. He said that while the early overs have been decent, it is something the team needs to improve, especially compared to the quality they’ve shown later in the innings.
“When it comes to bowling, the new-ball phase has been decent, but that’s an area we need to improve. The middle and death overs have been fabulous for us,” Bahutule said.
Looking beyond bowling, the spin coach also backed Punjab’s batting depth for the different scenarios that can unfold in T20 cricket. He suggested that even if the top order doesn’t get going in certain matches, the team remains well equipped to recover and build innings.
“Going forward, there will be situations where the batters might not get a start, but I think we are very well-equipped. There is depth in our batting,” Bahutule added.
Bahutule also credited Punjab’s bowling unit for operating as a cohesive group. In his view, clarity around roles and execution has helped the team keep plans on track, rather than letting phases drift.
He singled out the communication and understanding that comes from having multiple bowlers with defined strengths across the innings. “With our Indian bowlers like (Vijaykumar) Vyshak and Arshdeep Singh, along with (Xavier) Bartlett, it makes a huge difference in understanding what is required in different phases,” he said.
According to Bahutule, the next step is turning that planning into consistent execution as the match moves into its crucial middle and later stages. “In the second phase, execution becomes crucial, and so far, they have done that according to plan. We try to keep things simple and use them optimally in different situations, and they have responded really well,” he concluded.
