Growing up, Mukul Choudhary saw Mahendra Singh Dhoni finish games and wished he could do the same.
The 21-year-old rookie batter from Rajasthan made his ambition come true on Thursday night at Eden Gardens with an incredible six-hitting performance that helped Lucknow Super Giants defeat Kolkata Knight Riders by three wickets in a thrilling final-ball match.
“I dedicate this to my father. Even before he got married, he always dreamt of making his son a cricketer. I also always watch MS (Dhoni) sir, the way he finishes. I also play at the same number, so I dedicate this to him,” PTI quoted Mukul as saying after his heroics (54 not out from 27 balls; 2×4, 7×6).
Behind that poise is the unrelenting preparation needed to hit around 150 sixes every day.
“My genes are such and I am naturally built in a way that there is power in my shots, and also I do practice a lot. Everyday I hit around 100-150 sixes. For the last five-six months, I’ve been practicing a lot and that has come into me,” he revealed.
He also talked about how he struck Vaibhav Arora for a six in the 17th over using a “helicopter shot” akin to Dhoni’s.
“I have practiced that shot since childhood… I always liked that, and the way Dhoni finished (an inning). He used to hit a six even off a yorker. If you even hit that kind of a delivery for six, the bowler thinks about doing something different.”
LSG coach Justin Langer, who had previously claimed he could make Mukul one of India’s “scariest” middle-order hitters, has already taken notice of his six-hitting prowess and conviction.
On Thursday, he demonstrated it against a weakened KKR bowling attack, turning the tide of the game by reducing the score from 128/7 in 16 overs to 54 runs off the final four overs.
“If such a great coach says something about you, he must have seen something in you. He showed me his belief and I wanted to do it,” continued Mukul.
“He made me practice as well. He made me work with him for 10-15 minutes every day. He made me understand everything and that is my job. I did my job and he showed me his trust.”
In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Mukul actually needed 25 off the final over against Delhi in December of last year. In a knock that put him on the IPL radar, he nearly accomplished the seemingly impossible, getting it down to five off the final ball.
Soon after, LSG acquired him for Rs 2.60 crore.
“25 runs were needed from the last over and five runs from the last ball. Ayush (Badoni) was bowling. I did that previously so I had the belief. I got picked from that innings,” he recollected.
Five months later, Mukul claimed he understood the screenplay would give him a “new identity” because it seemed familiar on the much larger IPL stage. In his stunning attack, Mukul, who was just playing in his third IPL match, took the lead.
“I never thought about the result, just wanted to take the match till the end and take it close and in the end it became clear that ‘yes I can do it’.”
He disclosed that his deep-breathing mantra relieves anxiety, thus his composure under pressure is no coincidence.
“I used to be in a hurry before 1-2 years. But after 1-2 years of practice, I have kept in mind that I have to play as long as I can. If I take the game to the end, I will win.”
“When there are many things going around, I want to sit down peacefully for five seconds and take 2-3 deep breaths, just watch the ball and play the ball.” That routine was visible even in the final over as he briefly went down on his haunches to reset before finishing the job. I knew he would err on one ball and I had to hit it for six.”
Mukul’s path has been influenced by both talent and family sacrifice. Even before he had got married, his father, Dalip, had made the decision to turn his son into a cricketer.
In order to fund Mukul’s preparation, he quit his teaching position, sold his portion of the family house, and moved bases. Meanwhile, his mother Sunita completely rearranged her life around his cricket.
Mukul began as a medium pacer at the Aravalli Coaching Centre in Jaipur. “I was a medium pacer, so I became a keeper as there was no one around.”
However, coaches quickly encouraged him to bat after noticing his innate power hitting talent. Mukul had a difficult start to his domestic cricket career in the 2022–2023 season; his first tenure was disappointing, but he never gave up.
He is still grounded despite the increasing attention.
“Yes, there is pressure. It’s my first season. Even during practice matches there is pressure to perform as the team has shown trust in you.
“Even in domestic cricket you perform to reach here. But if you do it here, you will get a different name and different identity. I just look at that aspect by taking a deep breath and focus on the process.
“There will be pressure for everyone even if you play five matches or 50. But it’s about keeping the distractions aside and believe in yourself… I’m learning it but have to keep learning.”
