Mukul Choudhary made an immediate statement in Thursday’s IPL encounter, delivering a knock that swung the contest in Lucknow Super Giants’ favour against Kolkata Knight Riders. In pursuit of 182, the 21-year-old struck a rapid 54 off just 27 balls, steering his side home almost on his own. The win came with the sort of late-match nerve that separates good innings from match-winning ones.
Quick facts
- Mukul Choudhary scored 54 off 27 balls in the chase of 182.
- His innings helped Lucknow Super Giants secure a last-ball victory over Kolkata Knight Riders.
- The key turning point came after Ayush Badoni’s dismissal in the 15th over.
- Choudhary was named Player of the Match.
- In the post-match presentation, he spoke about his cricket journey starting in Jhunjhunu and later moving to Jaipur and Gurgaon.
- He credited a U-19 outing versus Uttar Pradesh as the moment his father recognised his promise.
- Reflecting on his second game under lights, Choudhary said he viewed the pressure as an opportunity.
With Ayush Badoni departing in the 15th over, it looked like KKR had the chase under control. Yet the turning point arrived when Mukul stepped in and refused to let the momentum drift away. Few around the league had seen enough of his ceiling to anticipate this kind of impact, but he arrived with calm decision-making and aggressive intent from the first delivery he faced.
From ball one, he went after the KKR bowlers with a blend of timing and power, finding gaps and clearing the boundary with conviction. The variety in his shot-making kept the fielders guessing, and the pace of his scoring ensured that the required rate never became a distant problem. Among the highlights was a helicopter-style hit that drew comparisons to MS Dhoni, adding extra excitement for both fans and commentators.
More than the runs, it was the context that made the innings stand out. In a high-pressure chase, the rookie showed he could stay composed, read the situation quickly, and change the complexion of a match without waiting for the game to settle. That fearlessness played a direct role in LSG’s last-ball finish, and it also turned Mukul into a name to watch for the rest of the season.
From Jhunjhunu to the big stage
After receiving Player of the Match honours, Mukul explained how his cricket journey began with his father’s long-held dream. He described starting out at around ages 12–13 in Jhunjhunu, despite limited means and a lack of structured academies. From there, he said he moved to Jaipur, and later shifted to Gurgaon as T20 cricket continued to expand and the opportunities for development grew.
In the post-match interaction, he said, “Even before my dad got married, it was his dream that his son would play cricket. Financial condition was not very good at the start. Began playing at 12-13 years. There were not a lot of academies (in Jhunjhunu) and then I moved to Jaipur. I saw how much T20 cricket is growing, so I moved to Gurgaon and stayed there for 3-4 months.”
He also pointed to a defining U-19 performance against Uttar Pradesh as the moment his father truly understood his talent could translate to higher levels. While that match was low-scoring, Mukul’s runs were enough to convince his family that the path ahead was real, not wishful thinking.
“My dad tells me there was an U-19 match against UP. It was a low-scoring match but I scored runs and that is when he knew I would make it big,” he added.
Managing pressure under lights
Mukul’s composure was perhaps even more impressive given that it was only his second appearance under lights. Instead of treating the spotlight as a burden, he framed it as an opportunity and focused on executing his plan without overthinking the situation. His mindset, he said, was to stay at the crease and believe that batting through could deliver the required result.
“Second match (under lights). Pressure is always there. But God has given us this opportunity, and I try to do what I can do. I see it as an opportunity, rather than taking pressure. My plan was to play till the end, and I believe in myself that much that I knew if I batted till the end, I could make the team win,” Mukul said.
