Choudhary's 54 Guides LSG to IPL Win Over KKR

In a thrilling finale at Eden Gardens, 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Mukul Choudhary steered Lucknow Super Giants to a three-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday, capping a dramatic chase with an unbeaten 54 off 27 balls in the Indian Premier League.

LSG, slumped at 128 for seven and needing 54 runs from the last four overs to reach 182, appeared out of contention. Choudhary, batting at number seven, shifted gears with explosive strokeplay, including seven sixes and two fours. He formed an unbroken 50-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Avesh Khan, who scored 1 not out off three balls. In the decisive final over, Choudhary smashed two sixes off Vaibhav Arora before a winning single sealed the win on the last ball. One standout moment came in the 19th over against Arora, when Choudhary unleashed a helicopter shot—a wristy whip over deep cover—that evoked memories of MS Dhoni's iconic style.

Choudhary, from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan, credited his idol Dhoni for inspiring his finishing role. "I always look up to MS Dhoni because I am also a finisher," he said in a post-match interview. "His helicopter shot, which is very iconic, is my favorite. The way he led...