Eden Gardens has given birth to many cricketing legends. A new name entered that conversation. Mukul Choudhary has just announced his arrival.
The stage was set at Eden Gardens for Match 15 of IPL 2026 between Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders. KKR posted a total of 181 for 4. LSG were struggling at 128 for 7 after 16 overs. The team needed 54 runs from just 24 balls. Mukul walked in at the lower middle order under immense pressure.
He stayed unbeaten on 54 runs off just 27 balls with a stunning strike rate of around 200. His knock included 2 fours and 7 sixes. This brilliant performance earned him the Player of the Match award. Commentator Faf du Plessis quickly noted his batting style similarity to MS Dhoni.
This win was built on a crucial 54-run partnership with tailender Avesh Khan. Experts are already calling it one of the finest finishes of the season.
This innings served as his defining breakthrough on the big stage. This knock firmly set his identity as a reliable finisher. The journey behind this special moment makes the success even sweeter.
Lucknow Supergiants bought Mukul Choudhary for just 2.6cr.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 9, 2026
Tonight he single-handedly won the game for LSG in the final overs!
A HERO IS BORN AT THE EDEN GARDENS. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/0JuQuPfC12
The Journey of Mukul Choudhary From Jhunjhunu to Eden Gardens
Mukul was born on August 6, 2004, in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. He grew up in a town with very limited cricket facilities. His father, Dalip Kumar Choudhary, faced severe financial struggles as a teacher and switched to real estate and the hotel business to fund this dream. Mukul once noted that it was never easy due to money issues, but his father did everything possible. His mother and sister even moved to Jaipur to support him during his training.
He started his journey as a medium-fast bowler at the SBS Cricket Academy in Sikar. He only became a wicketkeeper because his team needed one for a match. He later moved to the Aravali Cricket Academy in Jaipur. There, he trained alongside future IPL players like Kartik Sharma and Ashok Sharma. Junior scouts quickly noticed his clean hitting and finishing skills.
He struggled in his Ranji Trophy debut, scoring just 2 runs against Chhattisgarh. His overall red-ball numbers were poor, with an average under 13. He also struggled early on in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His big turning point came in the Under-23 State A Trophy. He topped the charts with 617 runs at a 102.83 average and earned his spot in the senior Rajasthan team.
He found his true rhythm in the 2025-26 SMAT season. He scored 173 runs with a strike rate of 199. He hit 34 sixes to lead the tournament and played a match-winning knock against Delhi. This built his reputation as a pure explosive finisher. In the 2026 IPL auction, he started with a base price of ₹30 lakh. After a heavy bidding war with the Rajasthan Royals, LSG bought him for ₹2.60 crore.
LSG head coach Justin Langer even predicted he could become the scariest lower-order batter in India. Mukul has openly stated that MS Dhoni is his ultimate idol. His helicopter shot at Eden Gardens was a direct reflection of that influence. He deeply aspires to match Dhoni’s famous calm nature during tight run chases.
His father’s long-held dream has finally reached the grand stage of the IPL. This special knock was the birth of a finisher that India might very well rely on in the future.
