Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens on Thursday, April 9. While players like Mohammed Shami, Digvesh Rathi and Ayush Badoni stood out, it was the young Mukul Chaudhary Who played a brilliant innings to take his team home.
Chasing the target of 182 runs on a two-paced pitch, LSG needed 54 runs from the last four overs. Chaudhary scored 52 runs out of these and the visiting team won on the last ball.
After the match, LSG head coach Justin Langer revealed that it was performance analyst Srinivas Chandrasekaran who urged the management to include the 21-year-old in the IPL 2026 mini-auction.
“Oh, we saw him at a training camp a few months ago, the first time we picked him. There's a lot of talent in this country. Big thanks to Srinivas, our data analyst, who said, 'Coach, we've got to get this kid.' We did that, and we were lucky,” Langer told Faf du Plessis in a broadcaster's interview after LSG's win.
Langer highlighted Choudhary's athletic ability and dashing runs between the wickets and compared him to the great Virat Kohli. The former Australian opener also mentioned that the wicketkeeper-batsman has an understanding of the game similar to someone who has played 300 matches.
Langer said, “What I like most about him is that he is a real athlete. The way he runs between the wickets is typical of Virat. But the other thing is his game understanding. We have played a few practice games and the way he talks about the game, it feels like he has already played 300 matches. He has strength, he is a great athlete and he has poise. As we both know, it is a very good combination.”
He is much younger, but he has the same twinkle in his eyes: Langer
Langer said that Chaudhary has the potential to become as good a finisher as greats like Tim David and Andre Russell. The former player also appreciated the hunger of the young player at such a young age.
“He has played a bit of cricket, although not a ton. But there are very few players like Tim David and Andre Russell. I am not even comparing him, but players like that make their careers around finishing games. That is the way he has grown up playing. He is used to finishing games, he thinks about it and he is only 22. He is very young, but he has such a look in his eyes. He is hungry. “His parents and family,” Langer said. Will be very proud of him today. When you come in for the first time, you work very hard and it will be a big moment in his life and career.
Get every cricket update! Follow us: :
Leave a Reply