IPL 2026: Lucknow Super Giants Beat Kolkata Knight Riders In Last-Ball IPL Thriller At Eden Gardens

What a finish two nights in a row. Looks like the IPL is heating up nicely. Tomorrow we have RR taking on RCB. That should be a blockbuster clash. Both sides unbeaten. And both sides in top form. On that note we escape from here.

In IPL Cricket, Lucknow Super Giants defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 3 wickets in a thrilling last-ball finish at Eden Gardens last night. Chasing a target of 182 runs, Lucknow Super Giants reached the total on the final delivery with three wickets in hand.

Earlier, put in to bat first, Kolkata Knight Riders posted 181 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs. A fine batting performance by Mukul Choudhary and Ayush Badoni, both also scoring 54 guided Lucknow to victory. Mukul Choudhary was declared Player of the Match.

In today’s fixture, the Rajasthan Royals will face the Royal Challengers Bengaluru at ACA Stadium. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM.

Mukul Choudhary | Player of the Match (translated from Hindi): My journey actually started even before I was born. My father had a dream that one day his son would play cricket. But back then, our family condition wasn’t strong, so I couldn’t start early. I began playing at around 12-13 years of age. There weren’t many academies at that time. One academy was there in Sikar at that time, SBS Cricket Academy, had just opened, and I trained there for about 5–6 years. After that, I moved to Jaipur because if you want to play at a higher level, you have to move forward. I’ve been practicing in Jaipur for the last four years.

Then last year, I felt that T20 cricket had become much faster, especially at this level, so I needed more match experience. I stayed in Gurugram for 3-4 months and played matches in Delhi, which helped me a lot in adapting to faster-paced cricket. That’s been my journey. (when did your dad realise that he could become something big?) My father tells me about one Under-19 match against the UP – it was a low-scoring game, no-one else really performed in that game, but I scored runs. That day, he felt confident that I could make it. (on not having played much under lights before) This is just my 2nd match under lights. (on playing under pressure) There is pressure, sir. But I think that God has given me this opportunity, so I just believe in my ability.

This is a chance where you can become something big or make a name for yourself. So I focus on the opportunity, not the pressure. (on what was the plan when Shami got out?) My plan was simple – I wanted to stay till the end. I trust myself that if I remain not out till the last, I can win the game. I just focus on playing my shots. If the ball comes into my area, I’ll hit it. The rest, whatever happens, happens. (favorite six he hit?) The first one. I hadn’t hit a six in the previous two matches, so that first six was special for me. That was good too (the one over point which he hit for six), sir… but the first six was the most special for me. (what was his thinking before the 5th ball of the last over?) My thinking was that even if the bowler delivers four perfect balls, at least one will come into my zone.

I just need one ball to hit a six. I was waiting for that ball – it could be the second-last or even the last ball. But I knew I would get it. (on his preparation for hitting sixes) Since childhood, I’ve always played attacking cricket. I’ve always been someone who hits. Now I understand my game better – if the ball comes into my area, I know I have to hit it. (on coming from a place called Jhunjhunu where lot of people serve in the Indian army, and you played like a Jawan tonight) Yes sir… It’s in my blood. I’m doing it here but they serve the country at the border.