Mukul Choudhary (BCCI photo) NEW DELHI: Lucknow Super Giants’ stunning last-ball win over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026 had a new hero as youngster Mukul Choudhary announced himself on the big stage with a fearless match-winning knock. LSG were chasing 182, looking down and out at one stage, but Choudhary’s explosive unbeaten 54 off 27 balls turned the game on its head.Reflecting on his journey after the match, the player of the match said, “Actually, my journey started before I was born. My father had a dream that one day his son would play cricket. But then our financial situation was not strong, so I could not start earlier.”
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‘We lost momentum’ – Mahela on MI defeat and key mistakesHe added, “I started playing when I was about 12-13. There weren’t many academies at that time. One academy, the SBC Cricket Academy, just opened and I trained there for about 5-6 years.”Choudhary’s rise was not easy, moving cities in search of better opportunities. “After that I moved to Jaipur because if you want to play at a higher level, you have to move forward. I have been training in Jaipur for the last four years,” he said, before explaining how the match exposure helped him grow. “I stayed in Gurugram for 3-4 months and played matches in Delhi, which helped me a lot in adapting to faster cricket.Despite the pressure of the tense chase, his thinking remained simple. “There is pressure, sir. But I think God gave me this opportunity, so I just believe in my abilities. This is a chance where you can become something big or make a name for yourself.”His approach during the chase was clear: “My plan was simple – I wanted to stay until the end. I believe that if I don’t stay out until the last one, I can win the game.”Choudhary waited patiently for his moment. “I thought that even if the bowler bowls four perfect balls, at least one will get into my zone. I only need one ball to hit a six.”And when it came, he wasn’t missing. “The first one. I hadn’t hit a six in the previous two games, so that first six was special for me.”Summing up his fearless style, he said, “Since childhood, I have always played attacking cricket. I have always been someone who hits.”In the end, Choudhary remained grounded: “Yes sir…but he serves the country on the border. I’m just doing my part here.”
