Mukul Choudhary stuns KKR to seal last-ball thriller for LSG — and honestly, what a moment that turned out to be. A 21-year-old (born 6 Aug, 2004) suddenly finds himself right in the middle of the action at Eden Gardens. No buildup, no long warning. Just walks in and—boom—smashes an unbeaten 54 off 27 balls. Pretty wild. That knock carried Lucknow Super Giants over the line against Kolkata Knight Riders on 9 April 2026. The chase? It went right down to the final ball. LSG ended at 182 for 7, just edging past KKR’s 181 for 4. Tight. Very tight.
What Happened Inside the LSG vs KKR IPL 2026 Thriller Match
So here’s the thing. LSG were chasing 182, which is never exactly a walk in the park. At one stage, they were struggling—128 for 7 in the 16th over. Not great, let’s be real. It looked like the game was slipping. Then things flipped, almost suddenly. Two late half-centuries came through—Ayush Badoni 54 (34) and Mukul Choudhary 54 (27)*. That changed everything.
Choudhary came in late. No hesitation, though. He just started hitting, clean and confident. And yeah, he stayed till the end, finishing the match on the last ball. LSG pulled off a three-wicket win. One of those games you don’t forget quickly.
Key Numbers At A Glance
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| KKR total | 181/4 |
| LSG total | 182/7 |
| Margin | LSG won by 3 wickets (last ball) |
| Mukul Choudhary | 54 off 27* (Man of the Match) |
| Ayush Badoni | 54 (34) |
| Match date & venue | 9 April 2026, Eden Gardens |
Why His Innings Mattered In The Run Chase
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Momentum swing: LSG were wobbling. You could feel it. Then Choudhary walks in and shifts the energy. A knock like that doesn’t just win games—it kind of resets belief for the whole team.
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Debutant impact: Not many people really knew him at this level. And then this happens. Performances like this? They stick. Suddenly, everyone’s watching.
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Pressure handling: Last ball. Eden Gardens. Crowd noise, expectations—everything. It’s not easy. He handled it, though. Calm, or at least it looked that way.
How He Did It — Quick Tactical Read
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Strike rotation and big hits: He didn’t just swing blindly. Took singles. Kept things ticking. Then suddenly—boundary. That balance helped keep the pressure from piling up too fast.
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Shot selection: He picked his moments. Targeted the shorter boundary. Waited for loose deliveries. And when they came, he didn’t miss. Short innings like 54 off 27? They’re all about timing… and a bit of nerve.
Lsg Head Coach Justin Langer Praised Mukul Choudhary
Justin Langer didn’t hold back. He spoke about Mukul’s temperament, which, honestly, stood out. Also mentioned his clarity under pressure. According to Langer, the youngster sticks to simple plans—and that’s kind of refreshing in high-pressure games.
He said Mukul showed what good finishers do. Pick the right balls. Keep the scoreboard moving. Step up when it matters. Sounds simple, but it isn’t. He also brought up Mukul’s work ethic. Apparently, he puts in serious effort during training. Listens, learns, keeps improving. That stuff adds up.
After Lucknow’s dramatic win over Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, the franchise shared a clip of Justin Langer in training, telling Mukul with a smile: ‘Over the next four months, I’ll turn you into the most feared No. 6 or 7 in India.’ The words now feel almost prophetic after his match‑winning knock.
What JL said 🧿 pic.twitter.com/c7y4oI4Sgn
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) April 9, 2026
Lsg Captain Rishabh Pant’s Advice That Helped Mukul Choudhary
Rishabh Pant played his part too. Not with the bat this time, but with his words. He gave Mukul some quick, practical advice during the chase. Nothing complicated. Just clear thinking.
Pant told him to trust his instincts. Don’t overthink. Just play. He also stressed rotating strike early—it helps, especially in tense chases. Then, when the moment’s right, go big. Simple plan, really. But effective.
Practical tips from Pant
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Trust instincts: don’t overanalyse in the moment.
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Rotate early: take singles to keep the required rate manageable.
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Finish with intent: pick the right balls to hit and commit.
What This Means For Both Teams
For LSG, this is big. Not just the win, but the confidence boost. And maybe, just maybe, they’ve found a new finisher. Teams always need someone like that.
For KKR, it’s a tough one to swallow. Defending 180+ should be enough, usually. But small mistakes—especially at the death—can cost you. And here, they did.
Sources:
- ABP News. (2026, April 10). WATCH: Mukul Choudhary’s last‑over heroics power LSG past KKR in IPL 2026. ABP News.
- Outlook India. (2026, April 10). IPL 2026: LSG’s new finisher Mukul Choudhary opens up on preparations behind match‑winning fifty against KKR. Outlook India.
- ESPN Cricinfo. (2026, April 9). Mukul Choudhary stuns KKR to seal last‑ball win for LSG. ESPN Cricinfo.
- Cricbuzz. (2026, April 9). Mukul Choudhary blinder snatches last‑ball victory for LSG. Cricbuzz.
- InsideSport. (2026, April 9). KKR vs LSG, IPL 2026: Mukul Choudhary takes Lucknow to last‑ball win. InsideSport.
Disclaimer: This content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional advice or endorsement of any individual, team, or organization. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no guarantees are made regarding completeness or reliability. Readers are advised to verify information independently before making any decisions based on this content.
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