New Delhi: Unbeaten so far in IPL 2026, Punjab Kings have found a winning formula built not just on performances but on a strong dressing room culture – some all-rounders. Cooper Connolly Says it is driving their success.Punjab Kings continued their dominant run with a 54-run win over Lucknow Supergiants, thanks to Connolly’s 46-ball 87 and a brilliant 182-run partnership with Priyansh Arya (93 off 37). The victory put them firmly at the top of the standings, extending their unbeaten streak.But for Connolly, the real difference is off the field.“We all communicate about what works for each other, and we take little things out of each other’s books. We’ve enjoyed taking small notes from each other,” he said, highlighting the team’s collaborative style.Learning the culture driving the growth of PBKSConnolly emphasized that the focus within the squad is on continuous improvement rather than individual milestones.“We’re all trying and trying to get better, that’s what the game is about, be the best team out there. We’re looking forward to a lot of notes and messages from each other to get better as a group and as a squad, not just my game.”That shared mindset has translated into consistent performances, with PBKS dropping points just once — in a rain-affected match — while winning the rest convincingly.Connolly also gave special praise to the captain. Shreyas IyerCredits his leadership for creating a positive environment.“He just leads by example, he always makes his group feel comfortable around him, and he’s always trying to improve and motivate people – and makes sure we do it with a smile on our face.”Great partnerships set the tone.Reflecting on his match-winning stance, Connolly admitted he was left admiring Arya’s brilliance from the other end.“I was just a bit scared at the other end, because I couldn’t get out of the strike, but yeah, it was fun watching him bat,” he said.Connolly added that the team’s approach is simple – play positive cricket and seize opportunities“You’re just trying to play good cricket shots, put pressure on the bowling attack, and take advantage of the loose balls, and I think we did that tonight.”Even minor setbacks, such as dropped catches, did not derail Punjab’s momentum.“That’s cricket… people drop catches. We just want to move on and put our best foot forward for the next match.”See also IPL Orange hat Holder and IPL Purple hat Holder
