Mukul Choudhary Delivers Match-Winning 54 vs KKR at Eden Gardens
UPDATE — April 9, 2026: If the debut against DC put Mukul Choudhary on the map, tonight’s KKR vs LSG match at Eden Gardens just made him a household name.
Walking in at No.8 with LSG reeling at 128/7 in the 16th over — still needing 55 off 30 balls with just three wickets in hand — Mukul Choudhary produced one of the most extraordinary lower-order innings in IPL history. His unbeaten 54 off 27 balls, laced with four sixes and two fours, carried LSG to a three-wicket win and pushed them to 4 points in the IPL 2026 playoff scenarios.
The carnage began in the 17th over when he launched Kartik Tyagi for two sixes — a helicopter shot over long-on followed by a brutalised loft off a full toss. He then took on Cameron Green in the 19th over, pulling him flat over deep backward square-leg and driving a slower ball over the sweeper cover boundary for a six and a four. Green, playing his first game as a bowling option after KKR’s decision to drop Blessing Muzarabani, went for 28 in his two death overs — most of them Mukul’s doing.
But the final over was the stuff of legend. Needing 14 off 6 from Vaibhav Arora, Mukul faced two dot balls — a yorker he missed and another that nutmegged him. The equation: 14 off 4. He then smashed two sixes in three balls — the first a pull over deep backward square-leg, the second a lofted drive over sweeper cover that brought up his fifty and levelled the scores. A scrambled bye off the last ball sealed it. Eden Gardens fell silent. The LSG dugout erupted.
For a 21-year-old uncapped player from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, this was the kind of innings that defines a career. The five sixes he hit off the final over in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy were no longer just a domestic footnote — the big stage has arrived, and Mukul Choudhary has shown he belongs.
The original profile on Mukul Choudhary, published ahead of his IPL debut, continues below.
The spotlight has firmly shifted to Mukul Choudhary, a young wicketkeeper-batter who has taken a rapid leap from domestic cricket to the grand IPL stage. Making his debut for Lucknow Super Giants against Delhi Capitals, Mukul Choudhary represents the new wave of fearless Indian cricketers rising through the ranks with aggressive batting and match-winning temperament.
Born on August 6, 2004, in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, Mukul Choudhary is a right-handed wicketkeeper-batter who has quickly built a reputation for his explosive strokeplay in the shortest format. At just 21, he has already shown glimpses of composure and finishing ability, traits that IPL franchises are constantly on the lookout for.
Mukul Choudhary’s domestic rise and breakthrough performances
The journey of Mukul Choudhary has been anything but ordinary. Starting out in Rajasthan’s domestic circuit, he progressed through age-group cricket before breaking into the senior side. His early performances in red-ball cricket were modest, but it was in T20 cricket where Mukul Choudhary truly began to shine.
In just seven T20 matches before the IPL auction, Mukul Choudhary scored 210 runs at an impressive average of 42 and showcased a strike rate well above 150. These numbers underlined his ability as a modern-day finisher, someone capable of accelerating in the death overs.
His biggest breakthrough came during the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In a high-pressure chase against Delhi, Mukul Choudhary smashed an unbeaten 62 off just 26 balls, including five sixes in the final over to seal a dramatic last-ball win for Rajasthan. That innings didn’t just win a match, it put Mukul Choudhary firmly on the IPL radar.
Consistent performances in domestic cricket, coupled with his ability to handle crunch situations, made him one of the most talked-about uncapped players heading into the IPL 2026 auction.
IPL auction story: How Mukul Choudhary earned a ₹2.6 crore deal
The IPL 2026 mini-auction turned out to be a defining moment in Mukul Choudhary’s career. Entering the auction with a base price of ₹30 lakh, the youngster sparked a bidding war among franchises.
Eventually, Lucknow Super Giants secured Mukul Choudhary for ₹2.6 crore, a massive jump that highlighted the demand for young Indian wicketkeeper-batters. Reports indicate that multiple teams were interested, but LSG showed the most intent, seeing him as a long-term investment.
The franchise already boasts experienced names, but Mukul Choudhary’s inclusion adds depth and a dynamic edge to their lower-middle order. His ability to finish games and adapt quickly makes him a valuable asset in a high-pressure tournament like the IPL.
Also Read: Who is Brijesh Sharma? The Rajasthan Royals Seamer Making his Debut in IPL 2026 Against CSK Tonight
What Makes Mukul Choudhary Special?
What separates Mukul Choudhary from many young players is his fearless approach. He is not just a wicketkeeper filling a role, he is a genuine match-winner with the bat. His aggressive mindset, particularly in the final overs, mirrors the demands of modern T20 cricket.
His 54 off 27 against KKR at Eden Gardens was eerily similar to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy knock that first made him famous — a high-pressure chase, the odds stacked against him, and Mukul Choudhary delivering under lights with the game on the line. The consistency of his temperament in clutch situations is what makes him more than just a flashy hitter.
Moreover, his journey from a small town in Rajasthan to the IPL underlines the growing strength of India’s domestic cricket structure. Mukul Choudhary’s rise is also a testament to how performances in tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy can fast-track careers.
As Mukul Choudhary continues his IPL 2026 campaign with LSG, expectations are now sky-high. He has answered every question asked of him so far — from debut to match-winner in the space of three games.
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