Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) edged past Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 3 wickets in another thrilling contest in IPL 2026 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. It was the 15th match of IPL 2026. After being invited to bat first, KKR posted 181/4 on the scoreboard in 20 overs. Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi added 84 runs for the second wicket after the early dismissal of Finn Allen in the second over.
Cameron Green and Rovman Powell played blazing knocks that helped KKR reach a competitive total. Angkrish Raghuvanshi was the highest scorer for KKR. Digvesh Rathi (1/25 in 4 overs) was the most successful bowler for LSG.
While chasing, Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram gave a solid start to Lucknow Super Giants. However, after Marsh got out in the fifth over, LSG started losing wickets at regular intervals. Ayush Badoni played a superb knock of 54 runs off 34 balls.
But the main highlight of the match was yet to come. Mukul Choudhary played a brilliant innings of 54 runs off just 27 balls at a crucial stage when LSG were struggling at 128/7 after 16 overs. He kept his composure and finished the match in favour of LSG by taking a single on the last ball.
Anukul Roy (2/32 in 4 overs) was the most successful bowler for KKR, while Vaibhav Arora also picked up two wickets. With this loss, KKR remain winless, while LSG continue their winning streak.
Rahane and Raghuvanshi Give KKR a Strong Start
KKR started well despite losing Finn Allen early in a controversial dismissal. Captain Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi then built a strong partnership of 84 runs in 52 balls.
Rahane played attacking shots, while Raghuvanshi took time to settle before accelerating. He hit Avesh Khan for 4, 6, and 4 in one over during the powerplay. However, LSG spinners Digvesh Rathi and M Siddharth brought the team back by dismissing both set batters.
Powell’s Late Push for KKR
Cameron Green struggled to score quickly, making only a modest contribution. On the other hand, Powell played an aggressive innings, scoring 39 not out from 24 balls. He ended a long boundary drought by hitting a six and later struck powerful shots straight down the ground.
At one point, KKR had an 86% chance of winning the match. However, Choudhary’s incredible batting completely changed the outcome.
Badoni Builds the Base
Before Choudhary’s heroics, Ayush Badoni had played a key role. Batting at No.4, he scored a steady 54 runs and helped LSG recover from early trouble.
He played carefully against Sunil Narine, scoring only 8 runs off 10 balls from him. Narine bowled tightly, giving away just 13 runs in four overs and taking the wicket of Mohammed Shami.
Badoni attacked other bowlers like Tyagi and Navdeep Saini, scoring 26 runs off just 12 balls against them. He completed his half-century in 33 balls with a six off Anukul Roy, but got out on the very next ball.
Choudhary’s Powerful Finishing Display
Earlier in the match, Rovman Powell had said that the Eden Gardens pitch was not easy to bat on. As the game progressed, the surface became slower and deliveries, especially slower balls, were harder to hit. Top batters like Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran and Rishabh Pant all struggled because of extra bounce.
Arora had earlier dismissed Markram and Marsh with short balls. But when he tried the same against Choudhary, the youngster hit him for a six. When Arora bowled a yorker next, Choudhary played a stunning helicopter shot over long-on. Despite this, KKR were still ahead when LSG needed 42 runs from 18 balls. But Choudhary continued his attack.
He hit Kartik Tyagi for two sixes, reducing the target quickly. Then against Cameron Green, he survived a mistimed shot that fell safely and then smashed 6, 4, and 6 in quick succession.
From Collapse to Comeback
LSG were struggling badly when Choudhary came in to bat. The team was at 104 for 5 in the 13th over while chasing 182. Soon, things got worse as they slipped to 125 for 6 and then 128 for 7. Choudhary himself started slowly and was just 2 runs off 8 balls at one stage. However, he completely changed the match in the final overs.
With 54 runs needed from 24 balls, he took charge and played an unbelievable innings to guide LSG to victory. Only Kieron Pollard had earlier scored more than 50 runs in the last four overs of a successful IPL chase back in 2013.
Dramatic Final Over Finish
The match went down to the last over, with LSG needing 14 runs and having three wickets left. Avesh Khan took a single on the first ball. After that, Choudhary smashed Vaibhav Arora for a huge six over square leg.
Arora bowled two dot balls to increase pressure. But then Choudhary hit an incredible six off a near-perfect yorker, bringing the target down to just one run from one ball. He missed the final delivery, but managed to run a leg-bye and completed a stunning victory for LSG. A new star had clearly arrived in the IPL.
Before IPL 2026 began, Lucknow Super Giants coach Justin Langer had said that young player Mukul Choudhary could become the “scariest” finisher in India. The 21-year-old proved that belief right in just his third IPL match. He smashed a brilliant 25-ball fifty and turned the game around for his team against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Mukul Choudhary’s fearless innings under pressure turned the game on its head. From a losing position, he led LSG to one of the most memorable wins of the season. His performance not only fulfilled his coach’s prediction but also announced his arrival as a dangerous finisher in the IPL. Stay tuned with JUSZNEWS for regular updates!