Mukul Choudhary is a 21 year old wicketkeeper-batter from Rajasthan who plays for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026. He smashed 54 off 28 balls with helicopter shots and brutal pulls to pull off the heist of the season against KKR at Eden Gardens on April 9.
LSG were 128/7 in the 16th over when Choudhary walked in. He smashed 7 sixes across the death overs to drag LSG to an impossible win off the very last ball. Justin Langer called him “the scariest No.6 or No.7 batter in India.” Tonight, he proved exactly why.
What Did Mukul Choudhary Do Against KKR Tonight?
Mukul Choudhary played the greatest lower order knock of IPL 2026 so far. He walked in at 128/7 in the 16th over with LSG needing over 80 runs from less than 5 overs. What followed was pure carnage.
- Over 16: Hit a helicopter six over long-on off Vaibhav Arora and a four through deep square-leg
- Over 17: Smashed Kartik Tyagi for two sixes over long-off and long-on plus a four
- Over 18: Mauled Cameron Green for two sixes over deep mid-wicket and deep backward square-leg
- Over 19: Hit Vaibhav Arora for two more sixes including the shot that brought up his fifty off the penultimate delivery to level the scores
- Ball 19.6: LSG stole a bye off the last ball to complete the heist
Final figures: 54 off 28 balls, 7 sixes, multiple fours. He single handedly turned an impossible chase into a victory that left KKR fans stunned and Ajinkya Rahane on his haunches.
How Did Mukul Choudhary Rise From Obscurity to IPL Stardom?
Choudhary started as a fast bowler before switching to wicketkeeping at the same Rajasthan academy that produced Karthik Sharma (Rs 14.2 crore, CSK) and Ashok Sharma (who bowled his first IPL delivery at 150 kmph).
His career nearly stalled after a poor first class debut in 2023, where he scored just 2 runs. He did not play another game for Rajasthan for two years.
The breakthrough came in the 2025 Men’s U-23 State A Trophy. Choudhary was the only batter to cross 600 runs in the tournament.
| Tournament | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U-23 State A Trophy 2025 | 617 | 103.00 | 142 | 34 sixes (most by any batter) |
| SMAT 2025/26 | 173 | 57.66 | 199 | Back to back match winning knocks |
| T20 Career (Pre-IPL) | 210 | 42.00 | 165 | Only 7 matches |
Those numbers triggered a three way bidding war at the IPL 2026 auction between Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians, and Lucknow Super Giants. LSG won at Rs 2.6 crore, more than 8 times his base price of Rs 30 lakh.
What Makes Mukul Choudhary’s Batting Style Special?
Choudhary is a right handed power hitter who specialises in death overs carnage from the lower middle order. His key weapons include:
- The helicopter shot: Tonight’s six over long-on off Vaibhav Arora was pure MS Dhoni. Strong forearms and wristy flicks define his power game
- The flat pull: He consistently cleared deep backward square-leg and deep mid-wicket with pulls that travel flat and fast
- Fearless intent: Walking in at 128/7 and immediately attacking shows mental toughness beyond his 21 years
- Six hitting ability: 34 sixes in the U-23 State A Trophy and 7 sixes tonight prove he clears boundaries for fun
Mukul Choudhary: Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mukul Choudhary |
| Born | August 6, 2004 |
| Age | 21 years |
| Role | Wicketkeeper-Batter (Right Handed) |
| Domestic Team | Rajasthan |
| IPL Team | Lucknow Super Giants |
| IPL Price | Rs 2.6 Crore (2026 Auction) |
| Base Price | Rs 30 Lakh |
| First Class Debut | January 17, 2023 (Ranji Trophy) |
| Academy | Same academy as Karthik Sharma and Ashok Sharma |
| Tonight’s Knock | 54 off 28 balls, 7 sixes vs KKR |
| LSG Coach Quote | “Scariest No.6 or No.7 batter in India” — Justin Langer |
What Does This Knock Mean for Mukul Choudhary’s IPL Career?
Tonight’s 54 off 28 changes everything for Choudhary. Before this knock, he was an unknown Rs 2.6 crore auction buy who had played just 7 T20s. After tonight, he is the player every IPL franchise wishes they had bid harder for.
His ability to walk into an impossible situation at 128/7 and produce 7 sixes under extreme pressure at Eden Gardens shows he belongs at this level. LSG head coach Justin Langer’s prediction that Choudhary would become the “scariest No.6 or No.7 in India” is no longer a bold claim. It is a statement of fact after tonight’s performance.
With Rishabh Pant at the top, Ayush Badoni in the middle, and now Mukul Choudhary as the death overs finisher, LSG have built one of the most exciting Indian batting cores in IPL 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Mukul Choudhary is a 21 year old wicketkeeper-batter from Rajasthan who plays for LSG in IPL 2026. He was bought for Rs 2.6 crore at the auction.
He scored 54 off 28 balls with 7 sixes to pull off IPL 2026’s greatest lower order heist at Eden Gardens on April 9.
LSG bought him for Rs 2.6 crore at the 2026 mini auction after a bidding war with MI and RR. His base price was Rs 30 lakh.
He trained at the same Rajasthan academy that produced Karthik Sharma (CSK, Rs 14.2 crore) and Ashok Sharma (who bowled at 150 kmph on IPL debut).
Langer told Rishabh Pant that Choudhary could become the “scariest No.6 or No.7 batter in India in the next four months.”
