Mukul Choudhary Reveals Priceless Finishing Advice from Virat Kohli

A Lesson from the Master: Virat Kohli‘s Guidance to Mukul Choudhary

In the high-stakes environment of the Indian Premier League, talent often bridges the gap between promise and performance. However, for young Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) batter Mukul Choudhary, the journey to becoming a refined finisher took a significant turn thanks to some invaluable mentorship from a modern-era legend, Virat Kohli. Ahead of LSG’s final clash against the Punjab Kings in IPL 2026, Choudhary opened up about a transformative conversation he had with the former Indian captain following a match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Moving Beyond the Six-Hitting Obsession

While the modern T20 game is defined by power-hitting and clearing the ropes, Kohli emphasized to the youngster that hitting sixes is a skill shared by many in the current generation. In a video shared by Star Sports, Choudhary recounted the specific advice he received: while power is essential, the true hallmark of a great player is the ability to anchor an innings and finish the game when the team is under immense pressure.

Kohli’s message was clear: In a competitive match, particularly when chasing totals around 170-180, the game demands tactical intelligence. The legend encouraged Choudhary to maintain one end if wickets continue to tumble at the other, effectively turning him from a mere power-hitter into a reliable match-winner who understands the nuances of the chase.

The Turning Point: That Knock Against KKR

The mentorship likely stemmed from Choudhary’s breakout performance earlier in the season. During a pressure-cooker scenario at Eden Gardens on April 9 against the Kolkata Knight Riders, the 21-year-old played a stunning, unbeaten innings of 54 off just 27 balls. Striking seven massive sixes, he single-handedly guided LSG to a last-ball thriller victory.

It was this specific innings that Kohli referenced during their interaction. Kohli encouraged the youngster to replicate that same calm mindset and clear intent in future outings, reinforcing that consistency in finishing is what separates the elite from the talented.

The Future of India’s Finishing Role

Choudhary’s rise has not gone unnoticed by the LSG coaching staff. Head coach and Australian legend Justin Langer has frequently praised the youngster’s natural power-hitting abilities. Langer has even tipped him to evolve into one of India’s most dangerous finishers in the years to come. While Choudhary has looked up to MS Dhoni for years—often attempting to emulate the legendary ‘Captain Cool’s’ calm demeanor and iconic helicopter shots—the guidance from Kohli adds another layer to his professional development.

Assessing the Season

Despite his explosive start, Choudhary has faced the typical ebbs and flows of a young professional’s career. Over the course of the tournament, he has accumulated 169 runs in 9 innings, maintaining an average of 33.80 and a strike rate of 144.44. These figures, while respectable, underscore the exact point Kohli was making: consistency and the ability to adapt to different match situations are the next steps in his evolution.

As the IPL 2026 season draws to a close, the focus for the young batter remains on refining his craft. With the backing of coaching legends like Langer and the tactical wisdom imparted by Virat Kohli, Mukul Choudhary is positioned well to make a lasting impact in the Indian cricket landscape. His ability to internalize these lessons and balance his natural aggression with the maturity to finish games will be the true test of his potential.

As the cricket world continues to watch his progress, one thing is certain: the willingness to learn from the greats is the first step toward greatness itself. For Choudhary, the advice to ‘finish the game’ has become his new mantra, one he carries into every net session and every match.