Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) registered a thrilling three-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in an IPL 2026 match at Eden Gardens on Tuesday (April 9).

Chasing a target of 182, LSG collapsed to 128/7. However, Mukul Choudhary single-handedly turned the game on its head, smashing an unbeaten 54 off just 27 balls with 2 fours and 7 sixes to take his team over the line on the final delivery.

After the dramatic, LSG head coach Justin Langer revealed how a data analyst helped the franchise acquire the services of young power-hitter from Rajasthan.

"Oh, we saw him earlier at a training camp a few months ago, the first time we picked him up. There's so much talent in this country. A big shout-out goes to Shrinivas, our data analyst, who said, 'Coach, we've got to get this kid.' So we did, and we were lucky to," Langer told Faf du Plessis during a chat with the broadcaster.

He highlighted Mukul’s ability to run quickly between the wickets, just like Virat Kohli, while his approach to chasing totals is modelled on MS Dhoni.

"What I love most about him is that he's a real athlete. The way he runs between the wickets is elite, like Virat. But the other thing is his game sense. We've had some practice games, and the way he talks about the game feels like he's played 300 matches already. He's got power, he's a great athlete, and he's got grace. As we both know, that's a pretty good combination.

"He's played a bit of cricket, not a heap though. But there are very few players like Tim David and Andre Russell. I'm not even going to compare him, but those kinds of players build careers around finishing games. That's how he's grown up playing. He's used to finishing games, he thinks about it, and he's only 22 years old. He's so young, but he's got that look in his eyes. He's hungry. His parents and family will be very proud of him today. When you first come in, you try so hard, and this will be a massive moment in his life and career," Langer explained.

With LSG reeling at 128/7 after 16 overs and needing 54 runs from the final 24 balls, the match seemed effectively over for the Rishabh Pant-led side. Choudhary, featuring in his third IPL match, orchestrated an incredible lower-order counterattack to seal the deal.

After Mohammad Shami’s dismissal in the 16th over, Mukul Choudhary shared an unbeaten 54-run partnership with Avesh Khan to take LSG over the line.

"When 64 (54) runs were needed in the last four overs, I was probably thinking this is what happens when you coach. When you're playing or commentating, you're on the easy side of the fence. I was thinking about what I'd say to the players after the game. I thought we bowled brilliantly on this wicket, we were outstanding. I actually noted that down regardless of whether we won or lost. Our bowling was excellent and our fielding was elite as well, so I was really pleased with that. But we also spoke about taking responsibility. Today, a 22-year-old kid has taken responsibility, and what an effort it was.

"Wins like this are huge for the dressing room. If you win the close ones, you build belief. It doesn't matter whether it comes with the ball or in a tight chase, those wins are like a magic tonic. Hopefully, it gives us a confidence boost at the start of the season. We've also got a lot of upside left in our game. What I love about him in the nets is that he's very curious. There were areas we identified straight away. We've seen his strengths, but he's also worked on his weaknesses. We've been doing drills with him every day, and it showed today. He wants to get better, he works very hard, and we've seen that over the last four weeks since he's been with us.

"And yes, a big shout-out to the scouts. They rarely get mentioned, but Shrinivas has been with us for a long time. He has a very sharp cricket mind. He sits next to me and often tells me what's going to happen next. He's picked out some brilliant players for us. The scary thing is, with Indian cricket, we've got three or four more waiting for their chance. The talent here is unbelievable. If you get to this level, it means you're very good because so many are trying to play IPL cricket, let alone international cricket," Langer concluded.