Eden Gardens has witnessed many miracles, but the finish of Match 15 in IPL 2026 will go down as one of the most audacious heists in the tournament's history. Just when the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) appeared to have the game in their pocket, an incredible display of power-hitting from Mukul Choudhary snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, leaving the home crowd in stunned silence. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) chased down 182 on the final ball, securing a 3-wicket win that felt almost impossible just fifteen minutes prior.
The KKR Foundation: Raghuvanshi and Rahane
Earlier in the evening, KKR had set a formidable target of 182/4. The innings was built on the back of a balanced partnership between youth and experience. Angkrish Raghuvanshi continued his stellar form with a gritty 45 off 33 balls, while skipper Ajinkya Rahane provided the necessary acceleration with a quickfire 41. When Rovman Powell hammered a few late boundaries to finish on 39*, KKR felt they had enough on a pitch that was starting to show some grip.
The LSG Collapse and the Great Recovery
The chase began poorly for Lucknow. KKR’s bowlers, led by the evergreen Sunil Narine (1/13 in 4 overs), choked the scoring rate. At 128/7 in the 16th over, with the required rate climbing toward 14 runs per over, most spectators had written LSG off. Ayush Badoni had played a brilliant hand with 54 off 34 balls, but his dismissal seemed to be the final nail in the coffin.
Enter Mukul Choudhary. What followed was a masterclass in clean hitting. Choudhary, showing nerves of steel, targeted the shorter boundaries and hammered 7 massive sixes. He found an unlikely ally in Avesh Khan, who played the perfect supporting role by simply giving the strike back to the man in form.
Last-Ball Drama
The equation came down to 14 runs off the final over. With the pressure mounting, Choudhary stayed calm. He dispatched a wide yorker over deep cover for six and followed it up with a powerful hit over long-on. On the very last ball of the game, with one run needed, he pierced the gap to seal a sensational 54* off just 27 balls. It wasn't just a win; it was a statement that no target is safe when you have hitters of this caliber.