Like a lot of finishers in the country, Mukul Choudhary is also one of them who credits MS Dhoni for his ability to ace the role of a finisher, especially in T20s. It is no secret that the former Indian skipper has, over the years, been known as one of the best finishers in the business, especially in the Indian Premier League (IPL). On Thursday, Mukul did just that as his 54-run knock powered LSG to their second win in IPL 2026 in what was a nail-biting, typical Dhoni fashion – taking the game till the last delivery and dealing in maximums more than anything else.
From his mini-helicopter shot to his calm and composed nature during the run-chase, Mukul showed shades of Dhoni in the run-chase, with his brilliance.
Mukul Choudhary channels his inner MS Dhoni
Speaking to JioHotstar, Choudhary admitted as a finisher himself, he always looked up to Dhoni and wanted to play like him. Choudhary came into bat at number 7, pretty much at a situation when LSG had given up all hopes. In the first 8 deliveries that he faced, the uncapped batter struggled and managed to take singles or play dot balls. However, over the course of the next 19 deliveries, Mukul went absolutely berserk and finished with 54 runs to his name off just 27 deliveries.
“I always look up to MS Dhoni because I am also a finisher. I always look up to him. His helicopter shot, which is very iconic, is my favorite. The way he led India in the 2011 World Cup, everybody remembers it. I want to be like him and finish off matches and help my team win,” Mukul said.
The Jhunjhunu-born cricketer represents Rajasthan in domestic cricket and was signed by LSG for Rs 2.60 cr at the IPL 2026 mini-auction. He was one of the breakout stars in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26, scoring 173 runs at an average of over 57 with a strike rate of a little under 200.00.
Speaking about his entry into cricket, Mukul revealed that his father had decided even before his marriage that his son would play cricket. Such is the passion that runs through his veins. Choudhary revealed the struggle behind him finding a cricket academy in the backdrop of neither him or his family having no cricketing background and how his father made a supreme sacrifice to make him a cricketer.
“When I was young, our family situation was not strong and it was not possible for him to get me enrolled in a cricket academy. At that time, he also used to teach in a college and was preparing for RAS as well, then he understood that either he can prepare for Rajasthan Administrative Service or he can make me play cricket professionally. So, he left his Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) preparation, did some property work, earned some money, and when I turned 12 years old, he enrolled me in the SBS Cricket Academy in Sikar city for the first time,” Choudhary stated.
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