JAIPUR: Mukul Choudhary isn’t one to dwell on selection twists. The 22-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Jhunjhunu has this season endured a turbulent domestic campaign marked by bizarre selection calls. After an ankle injury saw Sumit Godara replace him in the first game, a fully fit Mukul was entirely omitted from Rajasthan’s second Ranji Trophy match. The shuffling peaked when he was named for the third match, only to be abruptly replaced by Vishal Harsh the next day and relegated to the Under-23 setup.
True to form, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) finisher responded emphatically, smashing 112 off 129 balls against Mumbai in his first CK Nayudu Trophy game. He was then handed the U-23 captaincy after original skipper Himanshu Nehra was promoted to the senior squad, only for the selection dynamics to pivot again on Saturday with his own inclusion into Rajasthan’s T20 squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
After leading the U-23 side to an outright victory over Bihar on Friday, Mukul is now home for Diwali. In a candid chat with TOI, the youngster reflects on his whirlwind journey, tactical growth, and an off-season developmental stint in the UK, remaining focused on letting his bat do the talking.
Mukul admits he never anticipated fetching a massive deal of Rs 2.6 crore. “I never thought I’d command such a price tag,” he says. “My domestic season was going well, and after performing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26, my confidence grew. A couple of franchises, specifically MI and RCB, called me for trials. So while I knew some team might pick me, I certainly didn’t expect to secure such a substantial contract.”
Interestingly, his path to LSG was entirely unpredictable. “LSG didn’t hold trials for me. There was no prior contact or discussion,” Mukul reveals. “I didn’t even realize I was on their radar, let alone expect to join them.”
Breaking into the playing XI required treating internal practice matches like qualifiers. “When I joined, there was an open slot in the middle order,” he shares. “Our batting coach was Lance Klusener and he told me directly: ‘For you, the practice matches are your selection matches. Play them with that mindset if you want to make the final XI.’ I was the highest run-scorer across all three practice matches, even won one game single-handedly. That paved my way into the side, which is no small feat for an uncapped player.”
The road wasn’t smooth. Recalling early missed opportunities, Mukul says, “I was dismissed for just 16 in my first game, and in the next match, I missed two or three full tosses. Even though we won, I went back to my hotel room feeling completely dejected. At this level, you rarely get second chances.”
A critical turning point came right before a crucial clash against Kolkata Knight Riders, a match where he would go on to smash an unbeaten 27-ball 54, including seven sixes. In the lead-up to the game, the then LSG skipper Rishabh Pant noticed him batting too cautiously in the nets.
“I was batting quite defensively,” Mukul remembers. “Rishabh bhai noticed it and intervened. He told me, ‘What are you doing? Express yourself and play your natural game… We believe in you, you will get your opportunities, and you have to back yourself to deliver.’ Later, on the team bus, he called me over and reinforced that confidence.”
That dugout backing allowed him to play with complete freedom, contributing to a famous win.
Addressing his tactical progress, Mukul keeps his cards close to his chest. “I won’t share all the technical details,” Mukul smiles. “There are a couple of finisher-role specifics I am adding, figuring out how to develop even better scoring shots that can help the team when it matters most.”
Once the IPL season concluded, LSG arranged for him to travel to the UK, where the coaching staff, including Justin Langer, ran camps in Manchester. “The UK experience was great because the wickets are different, and pace bowlers get more help there,” he notes. “Adapting to those conditions helped refine my game.”
To maintain momentum, Mukul regularly trains at the Coaching Beyond Academy in Chennai under former India bowling coach Bharat Arun and G Jaikumar, the newly appointed batting coach for LSG. “Working under minds like Bharat Arun sir and Jaikumar sir at the Chennai academy has been incredible for my development,” Mukul adds.
Whether talking about his domestic grind or shifting formats, Mukul’s focus remains singular. “Be it LSG or Rajasthan, or red-ball or white-ball, the goal is to win matches for the team. You cannot let success alter your intensity. I just want to keep scoring runs, prove myself every single day, and let the bat do the talking,” the youngster says.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
