Chandigarh, Dec. 23 -- Punjab Kings' (PBKS) knack for spotting Australian talent was again on view at the IPL mini-auction, where they snapped up young allrounder Cooper Connolly for Rs.3 crore. In red-hot form for Perth Scorchers in the BBL, the 22-year-old has been earmarked as a finisher - a role that could see him fill the void left by Glenn Maxwell. A left-handed batter and left-arm spinner, Connolly - he has modelled his batting on former PBKS and Australia stalwart Shaun Marsh - spoke about looking forward to his first IPL stint in a virtual media interaction. From adapting to Indian conditions to learning under head coach Ricky Ponting and captain Shreyas Iyer, he said he is ready to embrace the challenge. Asked about Iyer's plans to use him as a finisher, Connolly stressed his versatility. "I have batted in all positions for my BBL team. For me, it's about preparing as best as possible for whatever role the team needs. If I get the opportunity to finish games in the middle order, I'll focus on knuckling down. I like to model my game on being versatile. If my role in IPL is different, that's understandable because it's a world-class team." Connolly's rise in Australian cricket has been swift. After consistent domestic performances, he made his T20I and ODI debuts in 2024 before earning his Test cap in early 2025 - he has played one Test. Reflecting on the whirlwind journey, he admitted it has all happened quickly. "Everything has moved fast over the last three years. Representing Australia in all three formats is an honour. I'm just trying to make the most of every opportunity." The prospect of working under Ponting has added to his excitement. "I'll start preparing mentally closer to IPL, but I'm really looking forward to learning from players like Iyer and Marcus Stoinis," Connolly said....