In a finish that will be remembered as one of the most audacious heists in IPL history, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pulled off a dramatic 3-wicket victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens. The night belonged to 21-year-old Mukul Choudhary, whose blistering maiden fifty turned a certain defeat into a jubilant celebration for the visitors.
Another day, another #TATAIPL thriller 🤩@LucknowIPL get over the line in a last-ball finish, courtesy of Mukul Choudhary's heroics 🫡
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/ov5gAlAtPH #KhelBindaas | #KKRvLSG pic.twitter.com/VLthHCB8Cm
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 9, 2026
Match Summary
KKR: 181/4 (20 overs)
LSG: 182/7 (20 overs)
Result: Lucknow Super Giants won by 3 wickets
Player of the Match: Mukul Choudhary (54* off 27 balls)
The Build-Up: KKR Set a Competitive Target
Winning the toss and electing to bowl, LSG’s bowling unit initially kept KKR in check. However, veteran Ajinkya Rahane (41 off 24) and the young Angkrish Raghuvanshi (45 off 33) provided a solid foundation. Late flourishes from Rovman Powell (39* off 24) and Cameron Green (32 off 24) pushed the home side to a formidable 181/4.
The LSG bowlers struggled at the death, with Prince Yadav and Avesh Khan conceding 47 and 44 runs respectively, despite picking up a wicket each.
The Collapse: LSG’s Middle Order Stumbles
Lucknow’s chase started with promise but soon derailed. Despite a sparkling 54 from Ayush Badoni, the middle order collapsed against KKR’s disciplined spin attack. When Nicholas Pooran fell to Kartik Tyagi, LSG found themselves staring at the abyss at 128/7 after 16 overs. With 54 runs needed off the final 24 balls and only the tail for company, the result seemed a foregone conclusion for the Kolkata faithful.
𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓. 𝐀. 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐂𝐊 🤯
Mukul Choudhary was absolutely brilliant in Kolkata 👏
He pulls off a famous heist for @LucknowIPL 🔥🔥
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/ov5gAlAtPH #TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #KKRvLSG pic.twitter.com/CXo53CQmLf
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 9, 2026
The Mukul Choudhary Show
What followed was a masterclass in power-hitting. Mukul Choudhary, the Rs 2.6 crore auction buy, took the game by the scruff of its neck.
The Turning Point:
Choudhary dismantled the KKR death bowling, specifically targeting Cameron Green and Vaibhav Arora.
The Stats: His unbeaten 54 off just 27 balls featured a staggering 7 sixes and only 2 fours.
The Finish: With 14 needed off the final over, Choudhary smashed two massive sixes off Vaibhav Arora. Though the tension peaked on the final delivery, Avesh Khan scrambled through for the winning run to seal the victory.
”I just wanted to take it deep. I knew if I stayed till the end, the boundary dimensions here would help me. It’s a dream come true to get my first fifty in a winning cause at Eden Gardens,” said an emotional Mukul Choudhary after the game.
For the Kolkata Knight Riders, this loss marks another heartbreaking failure to defend a total, leaving them winless at the bottom of the table. Their death bowling remains a glaring concern. Meanwhile, the Lucknow Super Giants climb the ladder, having found a potential new superstar finisher in Choudhary—already being whispered about by scouts as a tactical successor to the “finisher” archetype.
