IPL 2026 Play of the Day: Mukul Choudhary Channels MS Dhoni’s Helicopter to Stun KKR

First seen during the 2006 ODI series against the England cricket team, it wasn’t textbook—and that was precisely the point.

It came with a hint of defiance, as if Dhoni was telling bowlers: miss your yorker by an inch, and it’s gone anyway. They kept trying. He kept whipping them away. Over time, it became inseparable from his identity, especially in chases.

Years later, the shot still carries his stamp. Others have attempted it, a few have come close—but no one truly owns it like Dhoni.

Which is why, when that familiar swing resurfaced at Eden Gardens, it triggered instant déjà vu.

This time, it came from Mukul Choudhary.

The moment that flipped the game

With Lucknow Super Giants slipping behind in their chase against Kolkata Knight Riders, the game was drifting. Then came the spark.

Vaibhav Arora went full. Mukul stayed deep, rolled his wrists, and unleashed that unmistakable whip. It wasn’t just a boundary—it felt like a signal.

From there, everything changed.

What looked like a fading chase turned into a surge. Mukul didn’t just keep LSG alive—he dragged them to the finish line.

More than just a shot

What made it special was that it wasn’t random.

Mukul has grown up watching Dhoni closely, absorbing the nuances of his game.

“I have always looked up to MS Dhoni… I am a finisher too, and I want to become like him,” he said, recalling how memories of the 2011 World Cup still stay with him.

And for a few overs in Kolkata, he didn’t just copy Dhoni—he echoed him.

Calm in chaos

The final stretch belonged entirely to the 21-year-old.

With wickets down and Avesh Khan at the other end, it looked like a lost cause. But we’ve seen this script before—when Dhoni was in the middle.

Think back to 2013 against Australia national cricket team, when Dhoni turned 154/6 into 303 with a breathtaking finish. Or 2017 against the Sri Lanka national cricket team, when he guided the tail through a tense chase.

At Eden, Mukul brought a similar sense of control.

He attacked the right balls, kept the strike moving, and crucially, trusted his partner. He didn’t try to do everything alone—rotating strike when needed and allowing Avesh to play his role.

• That awareness elevated the knock.
• Not just power, but poise

There were other standout moments. Sunil Narine nearly turned the game with a brilliant spell. KKR had their phases of dominance, and LSG were sharp in the field.

• But the night belonged to Mukul Choudhary.
• Because this wasn’t just about hitting sixes.

It was about reading the game. Managing pressure. Knowing when to explode and when to wait.

The helicopter shot was the highlight—but the thinking behind it was the real statement.