Mukul Choudhary turned IPL 2026 into his own breakout stage on Thursday night, producing a stunning unbeaten 54 off just 27 balls to guide Lucknow Super Giants to a dramatic three-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders. In a tense last-ball finish, the young wicketkeeper-batter smashed 2 fours and 7 sixes at a strike rate of 200, turning a collapsing chase into one of the most memorable finishes of the season. For LSG, it was a precious win; for Choudhary, it was the arrival of a new name in Indian cricket.
The 21-year-old from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, comes from a place better known for sending soldiers to the Indian Armed Forces than producing cricketers. Yet his cricketing journey was shaped by his father’s dream, who had imagined long before their marriage that his future son would one day play the game. That belief, Mukul Choudhary said after receiving the Player of the Match award, became the foundation of his rise. He also revealed that financial constraints delayed his start in cricket, and he only began playing around age 12 or 13.
His early development came at SBS Cricket Academy in Sikar, one of the few places available to him at the time. Choudhary trained there for five to six years before moving to Jaipur, where he could push himself at a higher level. Over the past four years, Jaipur has become an important part of his cricketing education, helping him sharpen both his technique and temperament.
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As T20 cricket became faster and more demanding, Mukul Choudhary knew he had to adapt quickly. To stay ahead of the curve, he spent three to four months in Gurugram and played club matches in Delhi, a move that helped him deal with the pace and pressure of modern white-ball cricket. That shift, he believes, has played a major role in shaping his game.
Mukul Choudhary said, “God has given me this opportunity, there can be pressure, but it is also an opportunity to make a name for myself. My aim was to bat till the last and see what happens”. pic.twitter.com/rKPnsC3uRa
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 9, 2026
Remarkably, Thursday night’s thriller was only his second match under lights, and he is yet to make his domestic debut. But when LSG were reduced to 104 for 5 and still needed 78 runs from 43 balls, Choudhary batted with the calm of a much more experienced player. Even after Ayush Badoni and Mohammed Shami fell in quick succession, he held his nerve and trusted his process.
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“My plan was to stay till the end,” he said, and that approach defined the chase. Choudhary backed his power, waited for the ball in his hitting zone and played without fear. That fearless mindset, combined with composure under pressure, helped LSG pull off a remarkable victory.
When told he had played like a soldier, Mukul Choudhary gave a humble response: “It’s in my blood.” In one brilliant knock, he not only won the match for Lucknow Super Giants, but also announced himself as a rising name to watch in IPL 2026.
