Mukul Choudhary sent shockwaves across Kolkata on Thursday as Lucknow Super Giants pulled off a sensational chase in IPL 2026. Kolkata Knight Riders looked on course to secure their first league win of the campaign, but the momentum flipped after the 17th over when Choudhary unleashed a brutal spell of hitting.
At a glance
- Match: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants (IPL 2026)
- Venue/setting: Kolkata
- Chasing target: 182
- LSG position before the surge: 128/7 in 16 overs
- Key moment: Choudhary’s impact from the 17th over
- Choudhary’s finishing: 7 sixes and 2 fours
- Result: LSG won by completing the chase on the last ball of the 20th over
- KKR bowling highlights: Digvesh Singh Rathi took 1/25 for LSG
- KKR batting total: 181/4
- KKR top contributions: Angkrish Raghuvanshi 45 (33), Ajinkya Rahane 41 (24), Rovman Powell 39* (24), Cameron Green 32* (24)
- LSG wicket-takers: Anukul Roy 2/32 and Vaibhav Arora 2/38
With more than 50 runs still needed and no seasoned batting options left, Lucknow’s chances looked thin as they trudged into the closing overs. The equation demanded something special—and Choudhary delivered it in a hurry.
The 21-year-old, hailing from Jhunjhunu, struck seven maximums along with two boundaries to turn the chase into a statement. After drilling the winning run on the final ball of the 20th over, he lifted his eyes to the skies in thanks.
Who is Mukul Choudhary?
Choudhary is an Indian right-handed wicketkeeper-batter who plays his domestic cricket for Rajasthan. His role often centres on being an aggressive middle-order finisher, built to take control during the final overs and accelerate the scoring tempo when required.
In domestic T20 cricket, he has tallied 210 runs in his first seven matches, posting an average of 42.00 and a strike rate of 165.35. Ahead of IPL 2026, he entered the mini-auction as an uncapped player with a base price of Rs 30 lakh, which sparked a bidding contest among several teams.
Lucknow Super Giants won the race for his services, securing him for Rs 2.60 crore. The move was intended to strengthen their domestic wicketkeeping resources while adding lower-order firepower for the 2026 season.
KKR’s innings: 181 for four
When Lucknow chose to bowl first, they kept Kolkata to 181/4. The home side received key contributions from Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who made 45 off 33 balls, and captain Ajinkya Rahane, who struck 41 off 24 deliveries.
Rovman Powell finished strongly with 39 not out from 24 balls, while Cameron Green remained unbeaten on 32 off 24 as KKR built a competitive platform. For Lucknow, Digvesh Singh Rathi was the standout with figures of 1/25.
LSG chase: a last-ball thriller
Chasing 182, Lucknow kept control through Ayush Badoni’s 34-ball 54, which helped them stay connected to the target as the required run rate climbed. Then came Choudhary’s decisive work—he struck a match-winning 27-ball 54 not out.
With the pressure rising late, Choudhary’s clean hitting carried the chase over the line in a dramatic finish, as LSG completed the job on the last ball of the 20th over. For KKR, the primary wicket-takers were Anukul Roy (2/32) and Vaibhav Arora (2/38), but it was not enough to stop Lucknow’s late surge.
