New Delhi: In humid Lucknow last September, Cooper Connolly had a long chat with the India A captain. Shreyas Iyer. Part of the Australia A squad, Connolly picked Iyer’s brain to tackle spin.The 22-year-old then scored a fluent 70, but little did he know that the 25-minute conversation at the Ekana Cricket Stadium had left a lasting impression on Iyer, now the Punjab Kings captain.
A few months later, Punjab Kings bought the youngster for Rs 3 crore in the IPL mini auction.“Fortunately, he was there, and we had a good chat. It was all about cricket,” Cooper Connolly told TimeofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.
Cooper Connolly with fellow Australian teammate Marcus Stoins at the New Chandigarh Stadium in Mohali. (Photo credit: Punjab Kings)
“Look, he’s a world-class player. I love watching him bat. It’s so easy. So it’ll be good to pick his brain, understand him a bit, see how he bats in Indian conditions, and implement what I can do for my game in India. I’m just looking forward to learning from him,” Connolly said of playing with Iyer.Cooper Connolly said his main aim is to gain experience, learn from top players and challenge himself against the best in the IPL. He expressed gratitude for being selected by Punjab Kings, calling it an honour, and is keen to continue under the guidance of the coaching staff and captain Shreyas, even if he gets to play.
The moment one of the pedals went up for me was just a moment where I thought, OK, I’m going to go and challenge myself against the best in the world.
Cooper Connolly | Punjab Kings
“When the pedal went up, it felt great. It was obviously good,” he said.“I think the main goal initially was just hoping I would get picked up.“Now it’s just a matter of going there, experiencing some quality cricket against some quality opposition, and learning from some quality Punjab players and obviously one of the best coaching staff in Punjab.
Cooper Connolly (left) with his Punjab Kings teammates Marcus Stoins and Priyansh Arya. (Photo Courtesy: Punjab Kings)
“The moment one of the pedals went up for me was just a moment where I thought, OK, I’m going to go and challenge myself against the best in the world. The auction is clearly better than I thought. It’s just an honor to be a part of it and challenge myself against some quality opposition and try to learn as much as I can, whether I play or not. I’m just looking forward to getting out there and learning and honing my craft,” he said.For Cooper Connolly, it’s been a roller coaster few months. He has made his international debut for Australia in all three formats and has signed an IPL contract. He admits he hasn’t had a chance to reflect because it’s been surreal.The youngster did not have a good series against Pakistan, where his eyes were on the ocean. Then, in the T20 World Cup, he played only two matches and performed decently: taking three wickets in two matches.
hey [Shaun Marsh] There is someone I can approach to discuss cricket and his approach. More than anything, it’s the way he plays that I try to model my game on, how he gives himself chances in every format, his timing, and his ability to find the boundary. For me, it’s about approaching him when the time is right.
Cooper Connolly | Punjab Kings
Now at Molanpore, the youngster will get to work with the former Australian captain. Ricky Pontingand over the next two and a half months, he’ll have a chance to correct his technical flaws and become a much better all-around prospect.Perth-born Cooper Connolly, who has modeled his batting. Sean Marshis also trying to emulate his idol.“He’s someone I can approach to talk about cricket and his approach. More than anything, it’s the way he plays that I try to model my game after, how he gives himself a chance in every format, his timing, and his ability to find the boundary. For me, it’s about getting there when the time is right.
Poll
What aspect of Cooper Connolly’s journey excites you the most?
“He’s been really good to me. I’ve always watched him bat, and I still go back to his highlights, especially his centuries. It’s about picking some qualities from his batting and trying to incorporate them into my game, because he was world class,” Connolly said.Punjab Kings will play their first match at home against Gujarat Titans on March 31, and Connolly has worked with the squad and is ready for the biggest few weeks of his career, which could shape his future.
