Lucknow Super Giants batter Mukul Choudhary looked back on his climb from humble beginnings after steering his team to a nail-biting three-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026 at Eden Gardens. Choudhary, adjudged Player of the Match, finished unbeaten on 54 as LSG chased down a challenging target with a calm finish when it mattered most.
Quick facts
- Match: Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2026 at Eden Gardens
- Result: LSG won by three wickets in a last-ball thriller
- Chase target: 182
- Player of the Match: Mukul Choudhary (54*, unbeaten)
- Key chase contributions: Ayush Badoni (54) and Mukul Choudhary (54*)
- Notable partnership: Choudhary and Avesh Khan’s 54-run stand was the highest for the eighth wicket or lower in a successful IPL chase
- How the finish shaped up: Choudhary struck 52 of the 54 runs in the partnership; Avesh Khan finished with 1* (from 3 balls)
Choudhary’s rise, he said, was driven by a long-held dream in his family despite early financial constraints. He explained that his father’s aspiration for him to play cricket began long before he had even taken concrete steps in the sport, and that he started at the age of around 12 or 13.
He also described how limited cricket infrastructure shaped his early development. With fewer academies available in Jhunjhunu, he eventually shifted to Jaipur, seeking better opportunities to sharpen his game and keep progressing.
Adapting to T20 and finding the right path
As T20 cricket continued to expand, Choudhary said he actively reoriented his training and environment to match the demands of the format. He moved to Gurgaon (now Gurugram) and stayed there for about three to four months, focusing on the kind of mindset and skillset that keeps pace with modern T20.
He pinpointed another pivotal moment when his father highlighted a low-scoring Under-19 contest against Uttar Pradesh. Choudhary said he managed to score runs in that game, and it was that performance which convinced his father he could go further in cricket.
When asked about handling pressure, the young batter framed it as a chance rather than a burden. While acknowledging that pressure is always present, he said God had given him the opportunity to respond, and his focus was on doing what he could—especially with a plan to bat until the end and help the team secure the win.
The chase plan in the final moments
Choudhary also outlined his approach during the last phase of the run chase. He said he knew one delivery would come into his scoring area, and that he only needed to clear the boundary once—an idea that ultimately proved decisive.
He added that the first six of the match held special meaning for him, reflecting his natural power-hitting instincts. “I have always been hitting since I was young. If it is in my area, I smash it,” he said, underlining how instinct and preparation came together under pressure.
On the match itself, Kolkata Knight Riders posted 181/4 at Eden Gardens. Their innings was supported by Ajinkya Rahane’s 41 and a strong 45 from Angkrish Raghuvanshi, while Rovman Powell and Cameron Green added momentum late on to keep the chase firmly in reach.
Despite periods where KKR’s bowlers tightened the screws, Lucknow stayed composed and chased with intention. Ayush Badoni’s 54 and Choudhary’s unbeaten 54* formed the backbone of the run chase, with Choudhary’s late acceleration sealing the outcome in the final over.
The standout feature was a remarkable lower-order stand that shifted the contest. Choudhary and Avesh Khan put on 54 runs without being separated, a record mark for the eighth wicket or lower in a successful IPL chase, with Choudhary contributing 52 of those runs. Avesh finished at the other end with 1* off 3 balls as LSG completed a dramatic win.
In the end, it was a combination of steady batting, timely aggression, and a confident finish that carried Lucknow past KKR by three wickets in a finish that swung on one crucial moment.
