Inspired by his idol MS Dhoni and dedicating his knock to him Mukul Choudhary repaid the faith shown by Lucknow Super Giants to become their unlikely hero against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Mukul's 54 off 27, twelve of which came in the last over, took LSG over the line in a thriller at the Eden Gardens on Thursday (April 9).
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Mukul revealed how captain Rishabh Pant, coach Justin Langer, and the entire LSG ecosystem thrust belief in his ability, empowering him to show his potential in a nervy run-chase.
Playing just his third IPL game, Mukul admitted to a tendency to overthink his batting, but a chat with Pant helped sort out his mind just ahead of the game. "I used to rush myself a couple of years ago, but now I have practiced playing long, taking the game deep and winning it. Even in the last two games, I played only four-five balls, I didn't get out, but I was not able to hit.
"Pant told me (in the bus on the way): 'Why are you thinking so much: I'll do this, I'll do that. Don't. Just follow the process you have been working on. If you think, you'll put a lot of pressure. See the ball like you do and hit it. We have belief in you, now have that in yourself."
Leading up to this IPL, head coach Justin Langer had made a strong claim: "If he's willing, in the next four months, I am going to turn him into the scariest No.6-7 batter in India".
When reminded about the comment, Mukul said: "If such a renowned coach says that about you, he has definitely seen something. They showed faith in me, so it was on me to repay it. He (Langer) would separately work on me daily for 10-20 minutes."
Mukul hit seven sixes, one of which was a Dhoni-esque helicopter shot, all wrists and timing, down the ground. He said it's a shot he has practised since childhood. "I always liked that (Dhoni) shot, the way he would finish it. It's a good ball to hit for six, if you can hit that, the bowler really has to think what to do. That's why I practice it".
He dedicated the knock to Dhoni, as well as his father, who he revealed wanted to make his son a cricketer even before he got married. "I used to watch how MS Dhoni would finish games," Mukul said. "I bat at the same number. He inspired me early in my career, I finished the game and would dedicate it to him".
Mukul has merged his six-hitting inspiration with consistent hard work, specifically leading up to the season: "My body has a bit more natural power, but I practice as well - hitting 100 to 150 sixes daily - it develops if you keep practising it regularly. For the last 5-6 months specifically, I have been working a lot on it, so it's now developed"
Naturally, Mukul admitted to feeling pressure, but has worked on keeping it bay, knowing that it's part of the game. "This is my first season, there's pressure in practice games as well: they have so much belief in me, they've bought me, I have to make my way into the playing XI and do well".
"Only when you do well in domestic do you reach here. That pressure continues. But it gives you a chance: if you do well here, you'll make your distinct name and identity. I focus on that instead of pressure, it stays for a few balls, so I take a deep breath".
"Even if someone is playing their 15th or 50th match, this situation will create pressure. You have to distract yourself and believe in yourself. I am still learning it."
Four months ago, during a Syed Mushtaq Ali game for Rajasthan against Delhi, Mukul had pulled off an improbable chase in similar fashion. Mukul feels it was because of that innings: "I got picked (at LSG) in a way."
"I faced a similar situation in SMAT, needing 25 off the last over, five off the last ball. (LSG's) Ayush bhai (Badoni) was bowling. Even there, I took the game till the end. This had happened to me before, so I had belief in myself today as well that if I stay put, I will be able to hit it at the end."
