Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: It was an emotional night at the Eden Gardens as Lucknow Super Giants pulled off a thrilling last-ball win over Kolkata Knight Riders, but what truly captured hearts was what followed after the final delivery.Youngster Mukul Choudhary, who scripted the dramatic chase, was embraced by LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka in a moment that has since gone viral. The heartfelt hug, followed by a pat on the cheek and a brief conversation, reflected the magnitude of the innings as the team registered their second successive win to climb up in the IPL points table.Mukul’s dream knock seals thrillerChasing 182, LSG were reeling at 128/7 in 16 overs despite Ayush Badoni’s fluent 54. With the game slipping away, Mukul turned it around in stunning fashion, smashing seven sixes en route to an unbeaten 54 off just 27 balls.Playing only his third IPL match, the 21-year-old unleashed a fearless counterattack, scoring 52 runs off his last 19 deliveries to take the contest down to the wire. With one needed off the final ball, LSG scrambled a bye to seal a three-wicket victory.“There is always pressure, but God has given us this opportunity, and I try to do what I can do,” Mukul said. “My plan was to play till the end. I believe in myself so much that if I stayed, I could take the team home.”A hug that won heartsAs the players walked off, Goenka made his way onto the field and embraced Mukul in a touching moment. The LSG owner, visibly emotional, congratulated the youngster, even cupping his face in a gesture that underlined the importance of the innings.The visuals quickly spread across social media, with fans praising the bond between the franchise and its young talent. It was more than just a win—it was a moment of recognition and encouragement for a player at the start of his journey.WATCH:KKR falter despite strong totalEarlier, KKR posted a competitive 181/4, with Rovman Powell (39 not out) and Cameron Green (32 not out) adding late impetus. Ajinkya Rahane (41) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (45) also chipped in during a solid middle phase.However, despite early breakthroughs from Vaibhav Arora, KKR could not contain Mukul’s late assault.In the end, while the result boosted LSG’s campaign, it was the emotional post-match moment that stole the show.
