Mukul Choudhary Reveals Priceless Finishing Advice from Virat Kohli
A Lesson from the Master of the Game
In the high-octane environment of the Indian Premier League, few things are as valuable as a few quiet words from a legend. For young Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) batter Mukul Choudhary, a post-match interaction with Virat Kohli has become a cornerstone of his burgeoning career. Following a clash between LSG and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 17, 2026, Choudhary received advice that transcended mere tactical instruction.
The Art of the Finish
While the match resulted in a five-wicket victory for RCB, the real takeaway for the 21-year-old was the mentorship he received. In a video shared by Star Sports, Mukul Choudhary revealed the core of Kohli’s message: in an era where power-hitting has become commonplace, the true mark of a champion is the ability to navigate pressure and see a run chase through to the very end.
Kohli’s message to the youngster was clear and direct. He emphasized that while hitting sixes is a vital skill in the modern game, it is not the only metric of success. “He told me that it is important to finish the game,” Choudhary explained. “Nowadays, everyone hits sixes in this generation. He told me that I should finish the game the way I finished the game the other day against KKR.”
Anchoring the Inning
The conversation revolved around the concept of situational awareness. Kohli highlighted the importance of ‘holding one end’ when the team finds itself in a precarious position with wickets falling at the other. According to the former Indian captain, if a player can master the art of anchoring an innings during a chase of 170-180 runs, they possess the DNA of a great player.
This advice resonated deeply with Choudhary, who had previously stunned the cricketing world with a breathtaking display at Eden Gardens on April 9, 2026. In that match against Kolkata Knight Riders, the youngster smashed an unbeaten 54 off just 27 deliveries, featuring seven massive sixes, to secure a last-ball thriller for LSG.
The Potential of a Future Finisher
Mukul Choudhary’s talent has not gone unnoticed by the LSG management. Head coach Justin Langer has been vocal about the youngster’s natural power-hitting ability. Langer believes that with the right guidance, Choudhary has the ceiling to become one of India’s most feared finishers. Interestingly, while Choudhary draws inspiration from the calm, calculated finishing style of MS Dhoni, the advice from Kohli has added a new layer of tactical maturity to his approach.
Looking at the Numbers
While the highlight of his season remains the heroics against KKR, Choudhary’s journey has seen its share of ups and downs. Throughout the 2026 IPL campaign, he has accumulated 169 runs in 9 innings. With an average of 33.80 and a strike rate of 144.44, he has shown glimpses of a player who can dictate the terms of a game. However, as Kohli rightly pointed out, consistency and the ability to stay till the end are the final hurdles he must clear to elevate his game.
As the IPL 2026 season reaches its business end, with LSG facing off against the Punjab Kings, the lessons imparted by the modern-era legend will likely serve as a guiding light for Choudhary. Whether or not he implements these strategies remains to be seen, but the intent is clear: Mukul Choudhary is listening, learning, and preparing to make his mark on the biggest stage of all.
Ultimately, cricket is as much a mental battle as it is a physical one. By learning to balance the raw aggression that saw him dismantle the KKR bowling attack with the composure that Kohli advocates, Choudhary is positioning himself to be more than just a flash in the pan. He is looking to become a reliable, game-defining force for Lucknow Super Giants.
