New Delhi: Lucknow Supergiants’ last ball win against Kolkata Knight Riders IPL There was a new hero in 2026, as young Mukul Chaudhary announced himself on the big stage with a fearless match-winning knock. Chasing 182, LSG looked down and out at one stage, but Chaudhary’s unbeaten 54 off 27 balls turned the game around.Reflecting on his journey after the game, the player of the match said, “My journey actually started before I was born. My father had a dream that one day his son would play cricket. But our finances were not strong then, so I could not start early.”
He added, “I started playing around the age of 12-13. There weren’t many academies back then. An academy, the SBC Cricket Academy, had just opened, and I trained there for about 5-6 years.”Chaudhary’s rise was not easy, moving to cities in search of better opportunities. “After that, I moved to Jaipur because if you want to play at the highest level, you have to move up. I have been practicing in Jaipur for the last four years,” he said before explaining how the match exposure helped his development. “I stayed in Gurugram for 3-4 months and played matches in Delhi, which helped me a lot in adapting to fast-paced cricket.”Despite the pressures of the hot pursuit, his mindset remained simple. “There is pressure, sir. But I think God has given me this opportunity, so I just believe in my ability. This is an opportunity where you can become something big or make a name for yourself.”His approach during the chase was clear: “My plan was simple – I wanted to stay till the end. I believed in myself that if I stayed not out till the end I could win the game.”Chaudhary was patiently waiting for his moment. “My thinking was that if the bowler bowled even four perfect balls, at least one would come in my zone. I just need one ball to hit a six.”And when he came, he didn’t miss a toss. “The first one. I hadn’t hit a six in the last two matches, so that first six was special for me.”Summing up his fearless style, he said, “Since childhood, I have always played attacking cricket. I have always been a hitter.”In the end, Chaudhary stood his ground: “Yes sir… but they serve the country at the borders. I am just doing my part here.”
