India’s cricket talent pipeline is vast, often seen as unmatched anywhere in the world. Yet, even with so many skilled players competing for attention, only a small number truly break into the very top tier. The gap is frequently explained by two factors: not enough chances at the highest level, and the lack of structured guidance that can help a young batter refine his temperament under pressure. For Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) rising star Mukul Choudhary, both elements seemed to arrive at exactly the right moment. The 22-year-old showcased a ruthless batting display during the IPL 2026 showdown against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens on Thursday, turning the contest in LSG’s favour with a knock that left little room for doubt.
After the match, Mukul spoke to the media and described a clear shift in the way he approaches the last stages of an innings. He admitted that earlier he would often push too hard to finish quickly, but has since learned to slow the game down at the right time. Much of that evolution, he said, can be traced to counsel from LSG captain Rishabh Pant, who encouraged him to trust his process rather than rush outcomes. “The main thing is calmness. Over the last one or two years, I used to rush a bit, but in the past few months I’ve worked on this in practice, so that I want to bat as long as possible. If I take the game till the end, I believe I can win it for my team,” Mukul said.
Mukul’s impact in Kolkata was immediate and emphatic. In the chase of 182 runs, LSG found themselves under pressure, but he delivered when it mattered most, helping spark momentum at a crucial point in the innings. A key chapter of the pursuit was the stand he built with Avesh Khan. With the required rate climbing, the partnership proved vital—not just for its contribution, but for how starkly its roles were defined. Mukul accounted for 52 runs within that 50-run association, while Avesh managed only a single run from the three deliveries he faced, highlighting how heavily the batting responsibility rested on Mukul during that phase.
Speaking further about the mental side of his batting, Mukul revealed that even the previous moments in the chase didn’t come easily. “Even in the last match, I played four to five balls, I didn’t get out, but I wasn’t timing it well. So I spoke to Rishabh bhai. He told me that I was overthinking—thinking I will do this, I will do that. He said don’t think so much. Just focus on your job, your process, what you’ve always done. If you overthink, you’ll feel pressure. Watch the ball. When you hit it, you hit it well. I believe in you, but you need to believe in yourself too,” he added.
By the time the chase reached its final stretch, Mukul had taken control of the tempo and kept finding ways to attack KKR’s bowlers across the ground. His finishing came with maximum clarity: he struck through the pressure and completed the run chase on the final ball of the match, sealing a memorable victory for Lucknow at Eden Gardens.
