There are chases, and then there are nights like this. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) had no business winning this game at one stage. Seven down, more than 50 needed, and Eden Gardens already settling into seeing Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) first win of the season. And then Mukul Choudhary happened.
In a chase of 182, LSG somehow found a way to cross the line with three wickets in hand. It was something incredible. It was raw, chaotic, and powered almost entirely by a 21-year-old who refused KKR when they took all the bug guns away. From 128/7, Choudhary dragged LSG back into the contest and then past the finish line, finishing unbeaten on 54. It’s one of those innings that changes a career of a budding player.
Mukul Choudhary turns the game on its head
Till the 16th over, this was KKR’s game to lose. The pitch wasn’t easy, the ball was gripping, and LSG’s top order never really got going. Markram, Marsh, Pooran, and Rishabh Pant — all got stuck at different points.
Ayush Badoni kept things together with a much-needed 54. He didn’t go gung-ho, but just kept the chase alive. But even then, LSG needed something outrageous.
Choudhary started slow. He was two off eight balls. Then something clicked. He began picking the slower balls early, stayed leg-side of the ball, and just swung clean. Kartik Tyagi went for two sixes in an over. Cameron Green’s variations didn’t stick. Vaibhav Arora nearly closed it out, but one missed yorker and it was gone.
Fourteen off the last over were needed. Then six. Then another. Then he missed the last ball. A swing and miss, a scramble, a leg-bye. That was enough. KKR didn’t choke. They were simply outplayed in the last four overs.
KKR lose control after strong start
Earlier, KKR had done most things right. Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi stitched together a fluent stand and set the platform. Raghuvanshi grew into the innings after a slow start, while Rahane kept finding gaps with ease. At 98/1 in 10 overs, they were set for 190-plus.
Then came the drift. The middle overs just stalled. LSG’s spinners pulled things back, and suddenly KKR went from cruising to rebuilding. From 98/1, they slipped to 115/4. That phase hurt them. Rovman Powell gave them a late push with an unbeaten 39, but 181, on reflection, left a little too much room.
IPL 2026 points table after KKR vs LSG match
| Rank | Team | P | W | L | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RR | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | +2.403 |
| 2 | PBKS | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | +0.637 |
| 3 | RCB | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +2.501 |
| 4 | DC | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | +0.811 |
| 5 | LSG | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -0.359 |
| 6 | SRH | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | +0.275 |
| 7 | GT | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.270 |
| 8 | MI | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.715 |
| 9 | KKR | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | -1.315 |
| 10 | CSK | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -2.517 |
Next IPL 2026 match
| Date | Match | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 10 | RR v s RCB | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
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