Has Cooper Connolly left PBKS & returned to Australia in middle of IPL 2026? Know here

Cooper Connolly has played a big role in Punjab Kings’ strong run in IPL 2026 so far.

Punjab Kings have been one of the best teams in IPL 2026. They have played fearless cricket from the start. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, the team has looked confident and well-balanced. Last year’s finalists have won all of their matches so far, except for a rain-marred game and are sitting at the top of the points table.

Their success has come from both batting and bowling. The bowling unit, led by Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal, has delivered at key moments.

At the same time, the batting unit has been aggressive and consistent. Openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya have given strong starts in almost every match. On the other hand, PBKS‘ new addition, Cooper Connolly, had helped them put up big totals. 

Connolly’s brilliant performance with the bat is one of the biggest positives for Punjab. The young Australian batter has been very consistent at No. 3. He has scored runs quickly and built partnerships in the middle overs. His performances have made him an important player for the team this season.

Has Cooper Connolly returned to Australia?

Recently, Cooper Connolly became the centre of attention for an unexpected reason. He shared a picture of North Beach in Perth on his Instagram story. This post quickly went viral. Many fans began to wonder if he had left India midway through the tournament and returned to Australia.

However, there is no official confirmation about his travel history. It is still unclear whether the picture was new or old. This has created confusion among fans and experts.

There is also another possible reason behind the speculation. Connolly had suffered a back injury before the IPL. That is why he is playing only as a batsman and is not bowling. Cricket Australia had advised him to avoid bowling during the tournament.

Some reports circulating on X suggest he could have gone for a fitness check in Australia. A clearance is needed if he wants to bowl again. A similar situation was seen when Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) skipper Pat Cummins travelled back for fitness tests.

As of now, there is no official statement from the Punjab Kings or the Australian player. Fans will have to wait for an official update from the team.

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