Batting all-rounder Cooper Connolly has lauded captain <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ipl-2026-for-this-year-the-manifestation-is-to-win-the-title-punjab-kings-skipper-shreyas-iyer-23626615" rel="nofollow">Shreyas Iyer</a> for leading the side by example after Punjab Kings&rsquo;s 54-run win over Lucknow Super Giants.&nbsp;
Unbeaten so far this season, Punjab are currently on top of the IPL standings with 11 points from six matches. The only point they have dropped so far was against Kolkata Knight Riders, when the match was washed out.
&ldquo;He [Shreyas] just leads by example, he&rsquo;s always making his group feel comfortable around him, and he&rsquo;s always about just trying to get better and encouraging people and just making sure we do it with a smile on our face,&rdquo; Connolly said, adding that <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/photo/ipl-2026-priyansh-arya-overtakes-kl-rahul-pbks-record-with-ultra-aggressive-knock-against-lsg-110711" rel="nofollow">Punjab</a> have fostered a positive dressing-room environment, with players learning from one another and &ldquo;enjoying taking little notes off each other.&rdquo;
<img title="Cooper Connolly during his 87 off 46 balls on Sunday" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/apr/Connolly_e.jpg" alt="Cooper Connolly during his 87 off 46 balls on Sunday" width="1280" height="720" />Cooper Connolly during his 87 off 46 balls on Sunday
Connolly made 87 off 46 balls and shared 182 runs for the second wicket with opener Priyansh Arya (93 off 37 balls) to set up a massive 254-7 for the Punjab side.
&ldquo;We all have discussions about what works for each other, and we take little things out of each other&rsquo;s books. We&rsquo;ve enjoyed sort of taking little notes off each other,&rdquo; said Connolly about his side&rsquo;s five-match winning run in the league so far.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re all looking to try and get better, that&rsquo;s what the game&rsquo;s about, be the best team there is, and we&rsquo;re looking forward to plenty more notes and messages from each other to get better as a group and a squad, and not [just] my game.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Talking about his big partnership with Arya, the Australian said, &ldquo;Priyansh and Prabhsimran [Singh] sort of go about their sort of business the way they do, and Priyansh has done it over the last couple of years and been successful at it.
&ldquo;I was at the other end just in awe a little bit there, because I couldn&rsquo;t get off strike, but yeah, just enjoying watching him bat,&rdquo; Connolly said.
One Punjab Kings are the only team to remain undefeated after the first six games across all IPLs
254-7 No. of runs scored by Punjab Kings on Sunday &mdash; the highest team total in <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ipl-2026-we-gave-away-too-many-runs-gt-skipper-gill-after-99-run-loss-against-mi-23626659" rel="nofollow">IPL 2026</a>
87 No. of runs scored by Cooper Connolly on Sunday &mdash; his highest in the IPL
21 No. of sixes smashed by Punjab Kings on Sunday &mdash; the joint fourth-highest in an IPL innings&nbsp;
32 No. of runs conceded by Aiden Markram in the 13th over &mdash; the most expensive over ever by a LSG bowler&nbsp;
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IPL 2026: All-rounder Cooper Connolly credits captain Iyer’s calm leadership style and a positive dressing-room environment for PBKS being table-toppers

IPL 2026: Super skipper Shreyas Iyer ensures Punjab are Kings

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All-rounder Cooper Connolly credits captain Iyer’s calm leadership style and a positive dressing-room environment for PBKS being table-toppers and the only unbeaten side after six games

IPL 2026: Punjab Kings continue unbeaten run under Shreyas Iyer's leadership

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