Young Australian all-rounder Cooper Connolly is ready to begin a new chapter in his career after joining Punjab Kings for IPL 2026. The team selected him from the auction after the franchise paid ₹3 crore for his services. Punjab Kings will start their season against Gujarat Titans on March 31 in New Chandigarh. The team aims to advance past their previous season achievement after they lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final match. The PBKS organization possesses a strong structure which combines Shreyas Iyer as captain with Ricky Ponting as head coach. Connolly believes this is the perfect place for him to learn and grow as a player. Also Read | Will Ishan Kishan Become SRH Captain Permanently? Pat Cummins Gives Big Hint Connolly keen to learm from Shreyas Iyer and team Connolly expressed his excitement over joining the team because he will play with Shreyas Iyer who will teach him new skills. He also spoke about adapting to Indian conditions during the tournament. Cooper Connolly told TimeofIndia.com: "Luckily, he was there, and we had a good conversation. It was all about cricket." "Look, he's a world-class player. I love watching him bat. It just looks so easy. So it would be nice to pick his brain, understand him a bit, see how he goes about batting in Indian conditions, and put into practice what I can for my game in India. I'm just looking forward to learning from him." Connolly believes his membership in Punjab Kings represents a major advancement opportunity for him. He wants to face top players and improve his skills, even if he does not get many chances to play. Connolly added: "It felt so nice when the paddle went up. It was obviously nice," Connolly said. "I think the main goal initially was just hoping that I would get picked up. Now it is just to go there, experience some quality cricket against some quality opposition, and learn from some quality players at Punjab and obviously a great coaching staff at Punjab." "The moment one of the paddles 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. It's obviously nice to get auctioned off for more than what I thought." He further said: "It's just an honour to be a part of it and challenge myself against some quality opposition and just try to learn as much as I can, whether I play or not. I'm just looking forward to getting over there and learning and honing my skill sets." Also Read | IPL 2026: 4 Players Who Can Replace Ben Duckett at Delhi Capitals Shaun Marsh Remains Connolly’s Biggest Inspiration The young player explained how his idol Shaun Marsh continues to inspire him throughout his life. The young player said that he often talks to Marsh and learns from his experience. Connolly said: “He's [Shaun Marsh] someone I can approach for a chat about 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 a chance in every format, his timing, and his ability to find the boundary. For me, it's about reaching out to him when the time feels right." Connolly said that he uses Marsh's past performances to enhance his own batting skills. He studies his technique and tries to follow the same approach in his game. He Added: "He's been really good to me. I've always enjoyed watching him bat, and even now I go back to his highlights, especially his hundreds. It's about picking certain attributes from his batting and trying to incorporate them into my own game, because he was world-class." Connolly will seize his opportunity during IPL 2026. With guidance from experienced players and coaches, he hopes to build a strong future in T20 cricket.