Mukul Choudhary: 36 sixes in an innings, 500 km bus rides, an MS Dhoni dream

NEW DELHI: Calm under pressure and fearless at the death, Mukul Choudhary lit up Eden Gardens with a 27-ball 57, launching seven sixes to script a remarkable last-over win for Lucknow Super Giants against Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday.

The emotions were written all over the 21-year-old from Jhunjhunu’s face as he struck the winning runs - holding his nerve, battling anxiety, negotiating yorkers in the final over from Vaibhav Arora, waiting for the right ball to send over the ropes, and then raising both arms in celebration before his teammates sprinted in from the dugout to mob him.

That six-hitting IPL night, however, is backed by an even bigger story of preparation. This wasn’t the first time the youngster from Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan had taken bowlers apart. Long before making headlines in the IPL, he had already smashed an incredible 36 sixes in an innings.

36 SIXES IN AN INNINGS

In Sikar (Jhunjhunu), where Mukul trains, he practices on black soil. Adjusting to red-soil wickets, however, became a major challenge. That’s when he turned to his Under-23 batting coach Chandrapal Singh. In Rajasthan, red-soil pitches are found in Udaipur and Nathdwara. The distance was daunting, but an adamant Mukul embraced the challenge.

Packing his kit at night, he would board a bus to Udaipur (in Rajasthan) - and sometimes Nathdwara (in Rajasthan) - both nearly 500 km from Jhunjhunu.

"Mukul is extremely hardworking. I didn’t know if he would agree to it, but he accepted the challenge despite all the travel. He had to cover long distances - it’s not easy to travel 500 km by bus, play a match, stay overnight, and then return. He did this almost three times a week," Chandrapal told TimesofIndia.com.

"He once hit 36 sixes in a T20 match. We had called up a couple of teams, and Mukul’s side was up against them. I knew he would play a big knock, but I didn’t expect him to set things on fire the way he did. He was hitting the ball brutally. He has also practiced MS Dhoni’s helicopter shot,” Chandrapal said.

“You will find red soil in places like Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Cuttack and Karnataka. The way he stepped out of his comfort zone to prepare for this IPL is remarkable. He is a complete team man—team always comes first for him,” he added.

Mukul enjoyed an impressive run in domestic cricket.After making a mark at the Under-23 level, he scored 173 runs in five innings in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025–26 at a striking rate of 198.85. His superb form with the bat earned him an IPL contract, with Lucknow Super Giants picking him up for Rs 2.60 crore at the IPL 2026 auction.

MUKUL CHOUDHARY: NOT JUST ANOTHER HITTER

For the 21-year-old, the ability to clear the ropes with ease - from bat swing to footwork, reach, and reading the situation - has not come overnight.

“I have practised that shot since childhood,” Mukul had said during the post-match press conference after pulling off the heist.

“My body is naturally a bit powerful, and that has helped me. I also practise hitting 100–150 sixes every day, so the bat speed develops if you keep repeating it. I have been training hard for the last five to six months, and it has now become part of my game,” he had said.

After the match, LSG captain Rishabh Pant, who had looked tense until the final delivery, appeared visibly relieved. A broad smile spread across his face as he walked up to hug Mukul.

For Chandrapal, Mukul has always been a player who puts the team above everything else.

“More than just a classy batter, he is a brilliant team man. His first priority is always the team. I noticed this when he first came to me. In every situation, he would ask, ‘Sir, how can I help the team win?’ That attitude has made him special and brought him this far,” he said.

“We have seen players like Russell and Pollard, who are physically very strong hitters. He is similar in that sense. He has that kind of muscular build and a very different mindset. If he has to hit 100 sixes in a day, he can do it comfortably,” added Chandrapal.

ULTIMATE DREAM - MEETING DHONI

Among his seven sixes against Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday night, one stood out - a Dhoni-esque helicopter shot that sent the Eden Gardens crowd into a deafening roar. The entire LSG dugout, including Rishabh Pant, was left stunned.

Lucknow Super Giants now will next face Chennai Super Kings on May 10 and for Mukul Choudhary, he will not just be riding on the high of his incredible innings, he will be looking forward to meeting his idol MS Dhoni.

"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 favourite. 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 had said on JioHotstar after the game.

Lucknow Super Giants will next face Chennai Super Kings on May 10.

Before that, their schedule is packed: they take on Gujarat Titans on Sunday, followed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 15, Punjab Kings on April 19, Rajasthan Royals on April 22, Kolkata Knight Riders on April 26, Mumbai Indians on May 4, and once again Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 7.

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