Mukul Chaudhary (Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry 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 brave, match-winning knock. Chasing 182, LSG looked down and out at one stage, but Choudhury’s explosive unbeaten 54 off 27 balls turned the match on its head.Commenting on his journey after the match, the man of the match said: “My journey actually started even before I was born. My father dreamed that his son would play cricket one day. But at that time, our financial condition was not strong, so I could not start early.”
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He added: “I started playing at around 12-13 years old. There were not many academies at that time.
One of the academies, SBC Cricket Academy, has just opened, and I have been training there for about 5-6 years.Chaudhry’s rise was not easy, as he moved 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 on. I have been training in Jaipur for the past four years,” he said, before explaining how exposure to matches helped him develop. “I stayed in Gurugram for 3-4 months and played matches in Delhi, which helped me a lot in adapting to the fast-paced cricket.
“Despite the pressure of the tense chase, his mentality remained simple. “There is pressure, sir. But I believe God gave me this opportunity, so I believe in my abilities. This is an opportunity 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 in myself, if I don’t stay until the end, I will be able to win the match.”Chaudhry waited patiently for his moment. “My thinking was that even if a player serves four perfect balls, at least one will come into my area.
“I only need one ball to reach six.”And when he came he did not sin. “The first one. I hadn’t scored six goals in the previous two games, so those first six were special for me.”Summing up his fearless style, he said: “Since childhood, I have always played attacking cricket. I have always been a batsman.”In the end, Chaudhry remained steadfast in his stance: “Yes sir… but they are serving the country at the border. I am just doing my part here.”
