Mukul Choudhary turned Eden Gardens into a stage for late drama as Lucknow Super Giants pulled off a stunning last-over victory over Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday. The 21-year-old from Jhunjhunu struck a rapid 57 off 27 balls, smashing seven sixes and calmly steering the chase to the finish, even while facing yorkers from Vaibhav Arora in the final over.
Choudhary’s expression said it all after he found the winning runs—he looked composed, battled nerves, read the danger in the last over, and waited for the right moment to clear the ropes. Once the job was done, he threw both arms up in celebration as his teammates sprinted in from the dugout to mob him.
Preparation behind the fireworks
That explosive showing, though, was only the visible part of a larger story. It was not the first time the youngster had taken bowlers apart. Long before IPL spotlights, the batter from Sikar and Jhunjhunu’s region had already produced a memorable T20 knock featuring an astonishing 36 sixes in an innings.
In Jhunjhunu, where he trains, Choudhary works on black-soil wickets. Adapting to red-soil surfaces became a key challenge, pushing him to seek support from Under-23 batting coach Chandrapal Singh. In Rajasthan, red-soil pitches are commonly found in places such as Udaipur and Nathdwara, and the travel distance presented its own test.
To close the gap, Choudhary would pack his kit at night and travel by bus to Udaipur—sometimes also Nathdwara—covering nearly 500 km from his home region. The routine, according to Chandrapal Singh, was relentless, occurring almost three times a week and involving a full cycle of travel, match preparation, overnight stay, and return.
- Mukul trained on black-soil wickets in the Jhunjhunu area, building his hitting base.
- He faced a challenge when red-soil conditions came into play, prompting a shift in preparation.
- He linked up with Under-23 batting coach Chandrapal Singh to improve his adjustment to red-soil surfaces.
- He travelled by bus to Udaipur (and sometimes Nathdwara), with both destinations nearly 500 km away.
- The routine required him to travel long distances, play, stay overnight, and then return—almost three times each week.
- Chandrapal highlighted that Choudhary once produced a T20 innings with 36 sixes while facing real match opposition.
- He also worked on advanced hitting patterns, including practising MS Dhoni’s “helicopter” shot.
Chandrapal further pointed out that red soil can be found in multiple cricket hubs, including Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Cuttack, and parts of Karnataka. For him, the willingness to step out of comfort and prepare for IPL conditions stood out as the defining trait.
Beyond the workload, Choudhary’s domestic numbers underlined his rise. After making an impact at the Under-23 level, he scored 173 runs in five innings in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025–26 at a striking rate of 198.85. That form played a major role in earning him an IPL contract, with Lucknow Super Giants securing him for Rs 2.60 crore at the IPL 2026 auction.
Choudhary’s game: power, timing, and nerve
For Choudhary, clearing the boundary is not just about swing—it is also about footwork, reaching the ball well, and reading the situation quickly. He has spoken about building the technique from early on, explaining that he has practised the helicopter-style shot since childhood.
He credited his natural strength for helping him generate impact and added that he has been working on high-volume hitting sessions, practising between 100 and 150 sixes every day to develop bat speed through repetition. He also said he had put in intense training for the previous five to six months, which has now become a regular part of his match approach.
After the win, Lucknow captain Rishabh Pant—who appeared tense until the final delivery—looked visibly relieved. A wide smile came across his face as he walked over to hug Choudhary, with the moment reflecting the pressure both players had managed throughout the finish.
Chandrapal described Choudhary as a true team-first batter rather than merely a boundary-hitter. He said Choudhary’s first priority is always the team, noting that in every situation he would ask how he could help secure a win. That mindset, Chandrapal believes, has helped him reach this stage.
He also compared Choudhary’s physical strength and hitting potential to the muscular profile of famous power hitters, while emphasising that Choudhary’s mindset is distinct. The coach suggested that if the day demands it, Choudhary has the capacity to hit 100 sixes in a day comfortably—highlighting both confidence and control behind the power.
Dream moment: meeting MS Dhoni
Among the seven sixes Choudhary struck against Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday night, one stood out for its Dhoni-like flair—another helicopter shot that sent Eden Gardens into a roar. The entire Lucknow dugout, including Pant, was left stunned by the impact of the moment.
Lucknow Super Giants are next set to face Chennai Super Kings on May 10. For Choudhary, the innings will be more than just another high—he will also be looking forward to meeting his idol MS Dhoni. After the match, Choudhary said he always looks up to Dhoni because, like him, he is also a finisher. He singled out Dhoni’s iconic helicopter shot as his favourite and referenced the way Dhoni led India in the 2011 World Cup, saying he wants to emulate that style by finishing matches and helping his team win.
Before the Chennai clash, Lucknow’s schedule is packed: they take on Gujarat Titans on Sunday, then face Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 15, Punjab Kings on April 19, Rajasthan Royals on April 22, Kolkata Knight Riders on April 26, Mumbai Indians on May 4, and return to play Royal Challengers Bengaluru again on May 7.
