New Delhi: Punjab Kings youngster Cooper Connolly wrote his name in IPL history with a sensational unbeaten century against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday, becoming the youngest ever overseas batsman to score a century in the tournament.The 22-year-old Australian scored an unbeaten 107 off just 59 balls as PBKS chased down 236 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Despite his heroics, SRH cruised to a resounding 33-run victory to climb to the top of IPL 2026.
Connolly, aged 22 years and 257 days, broke Quinton de Kock’s decade-old record to become the youngest overseas century in IPL history.
Youngest overseas batsman to score century in IPL
- 22y 257d – Cooper Connolly (PBKS) v SRH, Hyderabad, 2026
- 23 yrs 122 d – Quinton de Kock (DD) vs RCB, Bengaluru, 2016
- 23 yrs 153 d – David Warner (DD) v KKR, Delhi, 2010
- 23y 330d – David Miller (KXIP) vs RCB, Mohali, 2013
- 23y 352d – Cameron Green (MI) vs SRH, Wankhede, 2023
Connolly’s unbeaten 107 also became only the second IPL century by a PBKS batsman at the age of 22, joining Prabhasmaran Singh in the elite list.PBKS centuries in IPL at the age of 22
- 103 – Prabhasmaran Singh v. DC, Delhi, 2023
- 107 – Cooper Connolly v SRH, Hyderabad, 2026
The left-hander’s eight sixes were also the most by a 22-year-old PBKS batsman in an IPL innings, eclipsing his previous best of seven against Lucknow Supergiants earlier this season.The SRH bowlers’ chase soon went off the rails.Chasing a tough 236, Punjab’s innings collapsed almost immediately under constant pressure from SRH’s disciplined bowling attack.Priyansh Arya was dismissed for one run in the opening over before Nitish Kumar Reddy dismissed Prabhasmaran Singh cheaply. PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer then fell for just five runs after being dismissed by Ishan Malinga, leaving the visitors in deep trouble at 23/3 inside four overs.As wickets tumbled around him, Connolly stood tall with a fearless counter-attack. He was supported by Marcus Stoins (14 off 28), Suryanesh Shidge (17 off 25) and Marco Johnson (19), but the asking rate remained above 15 in most of the chases.Connolly eventually completed his maiden IPL century in just 57 balls, unbeaten with seven fours and eight sixes as PBKS finished on 202/7.The victory moved SRH to the top of the table with 14 points from 11 matches, while PBKS dropped to second place after their third straight defeat.
