Mukul Choudhary is a 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, who plays for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL 2026.
On April 9, 2026, he smashed an unbeaten 54 off 27 balls with 7 sixes and 2 fours against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens.
His knock turned around a seemingly impossible chase of 182, dragging LSG from 128/7 to a stunning 3-wicket win on the last ball.
Mukul Choudhary Quick Profile
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mukul Dalip Choudhary |
| Date of Birth | August 6, 2004 |
| Age | 21 years |
| Birthplace | Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, India |
| Role | Wicketkeeper-Batter (Right-Handed) |
| Domestic Team | Rajasthan |
| IPL Team | Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) |
| IPL Price | ₹2.60 Crore (IPL 2026 Mini-Auction) |
| Batting Style | Right-Hand Bat |
| T20 Strike Rate (Domestic) | 165.35 (before IPL 2026) |
| IPL Debut | April 1, 2026 vs Delhi Capitals |
| Idol | MS Dhoni |
Early Life and Family Background
Mukul Choudhary was born in a humble family in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, to father Dalip Choudhary and mother Sunita.
His father dreamed of raising a cricketer long before Mukul was even born.
Dalip quit his teaching job at a coaching centre and sold his share of the family house to fund Mukul’s cricket training.
He then started a real estate and hospitality business to generate enough income for the family’s cricket investment.
Meanwhile, Sunita woke up at 4 AM daily to prepare meals and followed Mukul to training sessions in the afternoon.
She even kept an eye on him from her own classroom, glancing towards the ground to make sure he was practising.
The family eventually relocated closer to better cricketing infrastructure, with Mukul’s mother and younger sister also moving to Jaipur so he could train full-time.
Cricket Journey: From Medium Pacer to Explosive Wicketkeeper-Batter
This section explains Mukul’s unexpected role change and his progress in first-class and T20 cricket.
How a Bowler Became a Wicketkeeper
Here’s a fun twist. Mukul didn’t start as a batter or a keeper.
He joined the SBS Cricket Academy in Sikar as a medium-fast bowler, aiming to build a career with the ball.
During one match, his team needed a wicketkeeper and Mukul stepped in.
Inspired by MS Dhoni, he took to the role naturally and never looked back.
Rise Through the Ranks
Mukul later moved to the Aravali Cricket Academy in Jaipur, where he trained alongside Kartik Sharma and Ashok Sharma.
Both of his academy-mates also earned IPL contracts in the same season.
He made his first-class debut in the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy against Chhattisgarh in January 2023.
His red-ball numbers were modest initially: 51 runs in 3 matches at an average of 12.75.
However, the T20 format is where Mukul truly came alive.
Domestic Cricket Stats and Performances
Here are Domestic Performances of Mukul:
T20 Domestic Record (Before IPL 2026)
| Stats | Value |
|---|---|
| Matches | 7 |
| Runs | 210 |
| Average | 42.00 |
| Strike Rate | 165.35 |
| Highest Score | 62* (vs Delhi, SMAT 2025-26) |
CK Nayudu Trophy (Under-23) 2025-26
This is where the breakout happened.
Mukul topped the run charts in the CK Nayudu Trophy with a staggering 617 runs at an average of 102.83 and a strike rate of over 142.
He smashed back-to-back centuries: 121 against Delhi and 147* against Railways.
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26
In just 5 innings, Mukul scored 173 runs at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 198.85.
His most dramatic knock came against Delhi, where he needed 25 off the final over and hit the last ball for six to win.
That innings put IPL scouts on high alert, and weeks later, he was sold at the IPL 2026 Mini-Auction.
IPL 2026 Auction: How LSG Signed Mukul Choudhary for ₹2.60 Crore
The IPL 2026 mini-auction was held in Abu Dhabi on December 16, 2025.
Mukul entered with a base price of just ₹30 lakh.
Rajasthan Royals (RR) opened the bidding, while Mumbai Indians (MI) also jumped in early.
MI dropped out at ₹90 lakh, and then LSG entered the contest.
RR stayed in the fight until ₹2.40 crore before pulling out.
LSG won the bidding at ₹2.60 crore, nearly 9 times his base price.
For context, a full Ranji Trophy season pays a young player roughly ₹15-20 lakh per year.
Mukul’s IPL contract offered more than 13 times that amount for a two-month tournament.
Mukul Choudhary’s IPL 2026 Journey So Far
Here is the Glimpse of Mukul’s IPL 2026 Journey:
Match 1: LSG vs DC (April 1, 2026)
Mukul made his IPL debut against Delhi Capitals, scoring 14 runs before getting out to Kuldeep Yadav.
LSG lost this match, but Mukul showed enough composure to hold his nerve as Rishabh Pant guided the chase.
Match 2: LSG vs SRH (April 5, 2026)
LSG won by 5 wickets thanks to Mohammed Shami’s 2/9 and a steady half-century from Pant.
Mukul won the Super Sixes competition after this match, hinting at the power-hitting display that was about to come.
Match 3: KKR vs LSG (April 9, 2026) — The Breakthrough Knock
This is the match that changed everything for Mukul Choudhary.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| KKR Total | 181/4 (20 overs) |
| LSG Position When Mukul Came In | 104/5 (13th over, needing 78 off 42) |
| LSG’s Worst Point | 128/7 |
| Mukul’s Score | 54* (27 balls) |
| Fours | 2 |
| Sixes | 7 |
| Strike Rate | 200.00 |
| Result | LSG won by 3 wickets (last ball) |
LSG were 128/7 when Mukul was joined by tailender Avesh Khan at the crease.
They still needed 54 runs off 24 balls, and the jumbotron at Eden Gardens made sure everyone knew it.
What followed was pure carnage.
Mukul survived a tricky spell from Sunil Narine where he scored just 2 off 6 balls.
Then he flipped a switch.
Over the last four overs, seven sixes flew off his bat, each one more outrageous than the last.
With 30 needed off 12, he belted Cameron Green for two sixes and a four, bringing the equation down to 13 off the final over.
In the last over bowled by Vaibhav Arora, a couple of sixes and a dramatic bye sealed the deal.
Mukul reached his half-century in just 26 balls with a wristy six over deep cover.
Records Broken by Mukul Choudhary vs KKR
| Record | Detail |
|---|---|
| Most sixes at No. 7 or lower in a successful IPL chase | 7 sixes (tied with Dwayne Bravo, 2018) |
| Joint-third most sixes at No. 7 or lower in any IPL innings | 7 sixes |
| Highest 8th-wicket+ partnership in a successful IPL chase | 54* (with Avesh Khan), beating Rinku Singh & Umesh Yadav’s 52* |
| Most death-over runs in a successful IPL chase | 52 runs (only Kieron Pollard scored 50+ in death overs of a successful chase before this) |
| Most runs chased after losing 7 wickets | 54 runs (second-highest ever, behind CSK’s 61 in 2018) |
What Makes Mukul Choudhary Special?
Here are Some Points that describes What Mukul Choudhary Makes Special:
The MS Dhoni Connection
Mukul has openly said he looks up to MS Dhoni and wants to follow his path as a calm finisher:
The comparison isn’t just about keeping wickets.
It’s about composure under pressure, the ability to take games deep, and then finishing them with brute force.
Physical Attributes and Technique
According to Aaron Finch and Dale Steyn on ESPN’s analysis, Mukul’s strengths include:
Long levers that generate natural power without over-swinging.
Strong core and wrists that allow him to manipulate the bat face at the last moment.
Deep-crease positioning that turns even yorkers into hittable deliveries.
These are traits you cannot teach overnight. They’re built through years of hard work in dusty nets.
Self-Belief That Borders on Audacity
After the KKR match, Mukul said: “I try to take the game deep. I can win it if I stay till the end.”
That’s not hope talking. That’s a pattern.
He did the same thing against Delhi in the SMAT 2025-26, needing 25 off the last over and winning it with a six off the final ball.
What LSG Coach Justin Langer Said About Mukul Choudhary
LSG head coach Justin Langer was visibly impressed after the KKR win.
He compared Mukul’s finishing ability to players like Tim David and Andre Russell, before catching himself mid-sentence.
Langer noted that Mukul has gotten used to finishing games from tough situations throughout his career.
He also pointed out that Mukul is only 21, meaning the best is very likely still ahead.
Rishabh Pant echoed the sentiment, calling the knock “amazing” and saying he could see the talent in nets but watching it in a match was something else entirely.
LSG’s IPL 2026 Season After Mukul’s Heroics
After a loss in their opening match against DC, LSG have won back-to-back games.
They now sit close to the top four in the early group stage.
Their next fixture is against Gujarat Titans at home on April 12.
Langer summed up the momentum perfectly: “If you win the close ones, you get that little bit of belief.”
And belief is exactly what Mukul Choudhary has given this LSG squad.
5 Interesting Facts About Mukul Choudhary
| # | Fact |
|---|---|
| 1 | He was scoring a half-century for Rajasthan vs Mumbai in the SMAT on the same day he was sold at the IPL auction |
| 2 | He started as a medium-fast bowler and only became a wicketkeeper by accident |
| 3 | His father sold his share of the family house to fund Mukul’s cricket career |
| 4 | He trained at Aravali Cricket Academy where two other trainees also got IPL contracts the same year |
| 5 | The KKR vs LSG thriller was only his second match under lights at Eden Gardens |
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Conclusion: Future Star Found In IPL 2026
Mukul Choudhary‘s story is one of sacrifice, self-belief, and raw talent meeting opportunity at the perfect time.
From a small town in Jhunjhunu to hitting 7 sixes at Eden Gardens, his IPL 2026 journey has only just begun.
At 21, with a strike rate of 200 in his breakout knock, Mukul has already announced himself as one of the most exciting young finishers in Indian cricket.
