Lucknow Super Giants pulled off a dramatic three-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders, chasing down 182 in a tense IPL 2026 contest. Mukul Choudhary starred with an unbeaten 54, supported by Ayush Badoni’s 54, as LSG finished at 182 for 7 in response to KKR’s 181 for 4.
Ahead of the season, LSG coach Justin Langer had spoken about Choudhary’s potential to become the “scariest” finisher in India. The 21-year-old lived up to that billing in just his third IPL appearance, smashing a 25-ball half-century to turn the game on its head.
When Choudhary walked in, LSG were struggling at 104 for 5 in the 13th over. The situation worsened to 125 for 6 and then 128 for 7, with Choudhary himself crawling to 2 off 8 balls. However, with 54 required from the final four overs, he produced a remarkable turnaround. Only one batter before him — Kieron Pollard in 2013 — has scored more than 50 runs in the last four overs of a successful IPL chase.
The match went down to the final over with LSG needing 14 runs and three wickets in hand. Avesh Khan took a single off the first ball, before Choudhary launched Vaibhav Arora over square leg for six. After two dot deliveries, he struck a sensational six off a near wide yorker to bring the equation down to one off one. Although he missed the final ball, a quick leg-bye sealed a memorable win for LSG, marking a stunning finish and announcing his arrival on the big stage.
Choudhary’s game-changing finish
At the halfway stage, Rovman Powell noted that the pitch at Eden Gardens was not typical, with deliveries gripping the surface and slower balls proving difficult to hit. Several LSG batters, including Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran and Rishabh Pant, struggled against the bounce.
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Arora had earlier dismissed Markram and Marsh with short deliveries, but Choudhary countered effectively. He cleared square leg with a powerful hit before following it up with a helicopter-style six over long-on. Of his seven sixes in 27 balls, that shot stood out, prompting Faf du Plessis to remark, “MS Dhoni, eat your heart out! The helicopter shot is back,” during commentary.
KKR still held the advantage when 42 runs were required from 18 balls, but Choudhary shifted momentum again. He struck Kartik Tyagi for two sixes to bring the target down to 30 off 12 balls.
Cameron Green attempted to use slower deliveries, briefly inducing a mis-hit that landed safely. Choudhary then responded with a flurry of boundaries, striking Green for 6, 4 and 6 across successive deliveries. In the final over, he added another six before dealing with Arora’s change of angle and yorker attempts, eventually smashing a flat boundary over cover to leave KKR stunned.
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Badoni lays the platform
Earlier, Ayush Badoni had provided the foundation for the chase with a composed 54 at No. 4. His measured innings helped LSG recover from early setbacks, particularly as he handled Sunil Narine cautiously, scoring just eight off ten balls against the spinner, who returned figures of 1 for 13 in four overs.
Badoni capitalised on other bowlers, taking 26 runs from 12 balls off Kartik Tyagi and Navdeep Saini. He reached his half-century in 33 balls with a six over midwicket off Anukul Roy, but fell on the very next delivery, caught at wide long-off.
Rahane and Raghuvanshi build KKR’s total
Earlier, KKR made a strong start despite losing Finn Allen early in controversial fashion, caught at deep third by Digvesh Rathi for 9 off 8. Replays later suggested Rathi’s foot may have touched the boundary during the catch.
Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi then steadied the innings with an 84-run partnership from 52 balls. Rahane found gaps effectively, while Raghuvanshi accelerated after a slow start, hitting Avesh Khan for 4, 6, 4 in the final over of the powerplay.
LSG’s spinners, Digvesh Rathi and M Siddharth, broke the partnership in successive overs, removing both set batters and slowing KKR’s progress.
Powell provides late push
Cameron Green took time to get going, eventually scoring three fours and a six in his 24-ball stay. Rovman Powell, however, added momentum late in the innings with an unbeaten 39 off 24 balls.
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KKR endured a 31-ball boundary drought before Powell broke the sequence with a six off Siddharth. He followed it up with a powerful straight drive when Prince Yadav missed his yorker.
Despite holding an 86% win probability late in the game, KKR were unable to close it out, as Choudhary’s late assault turned the contest decisively in LSG’s favour.
