M S Dhoni would have felt a surge of pride watching Mukul Choudhary close out the contest for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their IPL 2026 clash against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Thursday. At just 21, Choudhary has long admired Dhoni\u2019s approach, and it showed as he delivered a commanding helicopter shot\u2014timed and executed with the kind of confidence that makes it look effortless. Like his idol, Choudhary pushed the innings deep and ensured LSG crossed the line. The unbeaten push also meant Avesh Khan\u2019s presence at the other end didn\u2019t matter much, with Choudhary carrying the momentum almost single-handedly.<\/p>\n
Choudhary\u2019s unbeaten 54 off 27 balls stands out as one of the classiest knocks of the season so far, and it\u2019s hardly surprising that the youngster from Rajasthan is quickly becoming the talk of the town. The standout feature of his innings wasn\u2019t just the power\u2014it was the composure and sharp reading of the game, which allowed LSG to keep moving forward at the right moments. In many ways, his knock functioned as a complete blueprint for finishing: acceleration when needed, boundaries in clusters, and a calm mindset even as the pressure built.<\/p>\n
The defining moment arrived on the fourth delivery of the 17th over, when Choudhary launched Vaibhav Arora\u2019s ball into the stands with a helicopter shot. The moment the on-field umpire signalled it as a maximum, the impact was immediate\u2014South Africa batter Faf du Plessis, inside the commentary box, clearly couldn\u2019t hide his reaction.<\/p>\n
Faf, who previously played for both Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), took to the air to remind viewers of Dhoni\u2019s legacy. He said the helicopter shot was back and urged Dhoni to \u201ceat his heart out,\u201d pointing out that the trademark shot was alive and well again.<\/p>\n
\u201cMS Dhoni, eat your heart out. The helicopter shot is back,\u201d Faf remarked during the broadcast.<\/p>\n
Choudhary\u2019s 54-run innings was built on variety and intent, with 2 fours and 7 sixes to his name. Crucially, 50 of his 54 runs came in boundaries, underlining how dominant he looked throughout the chase and how thoroughly he controlled the rhythm of the batting.<\/p>\n
After receiving the Player of the Match award, Choudhary revealed that the game against KKR was only his second outing in IPL action under lights. \u201cThis is just my 2nd match under lights,\u201d he said at the post-match presentation.<\/p>\n
He also spoke about the pressure that comes with performing on big nights, while explaining how he chose to focus on the opportunity rather than fear the moment. \u201cThere is pressure, sir. But I think that God has given me this opportunity, so I just believe in my ability. This is a chance to become something big or make a name for yourself. So I focus on the opportunity, not the pressure,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
That mindset aligns with what he had shared ahead of the IPL 2026 season as well, when he said he looks up to MS Dhoni and wants to finish matches in a similar fashion to the former India captain.<\/p>\n
What made the knock even more striking was the way it turned. Choudhary was initially batting at 2 runs from 8 balls, but once he found his range, he changed gears in a big way\u2014smashing 52 runs off his subsequent 19 deliveries, transforming the chase and leaving LSG firmly on course for victory.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
M S Dhoni would have felt a surge of pride watching Mukul Choudhary close out the contest for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their IPL…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1627,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Mukul Choudhary Helicopter Shot Ends LSG vs KKR Clash","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Watch Mukul Choudhary\u2019s stunning helicopter shot as he seals LSG\u2019s win over KKR at Eden Gardens in IPL 2026, following Dhoni\u2019s style.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1628","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n