The Lucknow Super Giants pulled off a stunning three-wicket victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 15 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Eden Gardens in a last-ball thriller.
Asked to bat first, KKR posted a competitive 181/4 on a slightly tricky surface. Captain Ajinkya Rahane led from the front with a fluent 41 off 24, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi continued his impressive run with 45 off 33. Cameron Green (32* off 24) and Rovman Powell (39* off 24) provided the late surge to take KKR to a strong total.
In reply, LSG had a shaky start and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Ayush Badoni held the innings together with a crucial 54 off 34, but with wickets falling around him, KKR looked firmly in control of the contest.
However, what followed was an unbelievable turnaround. With 54 needed off the last four overs and just three wickets in hand, Mukul Choudhary produced a sensational knock under pressure, smashing an unbeaten 54 off just 27 balls, including seven towering sixes, to take LSG over the line on the final delivery.
Talking Points
1. KKR batters put on a show on a tricky Eden deck
Despite the pitch offering some assistance to bowlers, KKR’s batters adapted brilliantly to post a competitive total. Ajinkya Rahane set the tone early with an aggressive approach, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi anchored the middle overs with a composed knock.
The finishing touches from Cameron Green and Rovman Powell ensured KKR maintained momentum and crossed the 180-run mark, which looked more than defendable on the surface.
2. KKR spinners spun their web
KKR’s spin attack, led by Sunil Narine, played a crucial role in putting LSG under pressure. Narine was exceptional, conceding just 13 runs in his four overs while picking up a wicket.
Anukul Roy also chipped in with two key wickets, including the crucial dismissal of Abdul Samad. The spinners controlled the middle overs brilliantly, making the chase increasingly difficult for LSG.
3. Mukul Choudhary’s incredible heist
Just when the game seemed done and dusted in KKR’s favour, Mukul Choudhary turned it on its head with a breathtaking display of power-hitting. Walking in under immense pressure, he showed remarkable composure and clarity in his approach.
With 54 needed off 24 balls, Mukul took charge, targeting the boundaries with fearless intent. Even in the final over, with 13 needed, he held his nerve and finished the game in style, sealing a memorable win for LSG on the last ball.
His innings not only stunned KKR but also marked one of the most remarkable finishes of IPL 2026 so far.
KKR vs LSG: Who Said What?
Ajinkya Rahane, KKR captain
“Tough one to take but really proud of the boys for the way we played. Mukul’s (Choudhary) knock was defining. The execution here and there can happen in the last two overs but credit to Mukul for that partnership. For them it was nothing to lose, 2 overs 30 runs so it was all about swinging hard every ball. Couple of balls were good balls but he batted brilliantly. When you lose a game it’s easy to know what we could have done better. 180 odd on this wicket wasn’t easy. Let’s give credit to the batter for the way he batted. Intention was to keep Avesh on strike. We had to field five fielders up and it’s tough on the bowlers.“
Rishabh Pant, LSG captain
“When we see him (Mukul) in the nets, when you see someone, you can see that, but you know, when you do it in the match, it just feels amazing. Yeah, like I don’t have words to describe. It’s just overwhelmed from the match, but what a fantastic effort. (Do you understand players coming from smaller cities?) One thing I made sure that, personally, sometimes the trust and, when you build in someone as a player, as a captain, they have a trust of the management, a player can do wonders, having that trust, I think definitely plays a big role. (What does that do to the belief and the confidence of the side in your view?) It’s definitely the character, character with each and every match like this, someone putting a hand up, it shows that something is building for sure. We don’t want to talk much about that, but at the same time, we know something good is cooking inside and hopefully it’s gonna flourish soon.”
Mukul Choudhary, Player of the Match
“My journey started when my father was not even married, his dream was his son has to play cricket. I started at the age group level but there were not good academies in Sikkim. I played matches in Delhi and Guragaon and that helped me. When I was playing against U19 versus UP, it was a low scoring game and I made a contribution, so he knew then that I would make it big. It was only my second match. God has given me this opportunity, there can be pressure but it is also an opportunity to make a name for myself. My aim was to bat till the last and see what happens. Even I liked the first six, I had not scored a single six in two games, so the first one was special. In my mind I knew one out of the four balls will be in the slot and I was just waiting for it. From younger days I like hitting sixes and not playing along the ground.”
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