Mukul Choudhary’s Unbeaten 54 Powers LSG to Last-Ball Victory Over Winless KKR
NEW DELHI — The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) secured a three-wicket victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a dramatic final-ball finish during their IPL 2026 encounter. Chasing 182, LSG recovered from a middle-order collapse to hand KKR their fourth consecutive defeat of the tournament.
Match Summary
Kolkata set a competitive target of 181/4, driven by top-order contributions and a late surge. However, KKR’s death bowling struggled to contain Ayush Badoni and rookie Mukul Choudhary, who orchestrated a massive turnaround for Lucknow.
| Team | Score | Top Performers |
|---|---|---|
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 181/4 (20 Overs) | Angkrish Raghuvanshi (45), Ajinkya Rahane (41) |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 182/7 (20 Overs) | Ayush Badoni (54), Mukul Choudhary (54*) |
KKR’s Innings: Solid Start, Middle-Over Slowdown
Asked to bat first, KKR established a strong foundation. Ajinkya Rahane scored 41, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi added 45 to set the pace. A deceleration during the middle overs prevented KKR from breaching the 200-run mark. Rovman Powell (39 not out) and Cameron Green (32 not out) accelerated in the final overs, pushing the total to 181/4. Fans tracking the official IPL statistics will note KKR’s ongoing difficulty in maximizing powerplay scores this season.
LSG’s Chase: Collapse to Recovery
Lucknow’s response began poorly despite a 41-run opening stand. KKR pacers Vaibhav Arora and Cameron Green dismantled the LSG top order, removing Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, and Rishabh Pant. By the middle overs, LSG was struggling at 125/6, making KKR the clear mathematical favorite.
The momentum shifted when Ayush Badoni stabilized the innings with a calculated 54. Following Badoni’s effort, Mukul Choudhary took control. Choudhary produced an aggressive, unbeaten 54 from 27 deliveries, clearing the boundary repeatedly to keep LSG in contention.
Death Overs Decide the Contest
KKR’s bowling attack failed to execute under pressure during the final two overs. Green surrendered critical runs in the 19th over, leaving Arora to defend a narrow margin in the 20th. Choudhary capitalized on full deliveries, hitting the winning runs on the final ball to complete the chase at 182/7.
- LSG Standings: Advanced to fifth place on the points table.
- KKR Standings: Dropped to ninth place, remaining winless after four games.
For more detailed player statistics and tournament standings, visit ESPN Cricinfo and the BCCI official website.