Media365
Mukul Choudhary has emerged as one of the exciting young talents of IPL 2026 despite Lucknow Super Giants enduring a disappointing campaign and missing out on the playoffs. The youngster recently opened up about a memorable interaction with Virat Kohli, revealing how the RCB superstar offered him important advice about handling pressure situations and mastering the art of finishing games in T20 cricket.Speaking to JioHotstar, Mukul said Kohli had closely followed his innings against Kolkata Knight Riders and appreciated the way he guided the chase.“When I spoke to him, he told me that he had watched our match against KKR and seen how I finished the game,” Mukul revealed.The young batter said Kohli stressed that modern-day cricket has evolved to a point where power-hitting alone no longer separates batters from the rest.“He said that hitting sixes is not a big deal anymore. Every young batter in this generation can clear the ropes. But what really matters is learning how to finish matches,” Mukul said.According to the LSG youngster, Kohli explained that the true test of a batter begins when pressure starts mounting during difficult chases.“Anyone can hit a six when there’s no pressure. But in chases of 170 or 180, when wickets are falling at the other end and the required rate is climbing, that is when the real test begins. If you learn to handle that pressure, stay calm, and control the innings, that is what makes you a big player. Finishing games consistently is a rare skill,” Mukul recalled Kohli telling him.The conversation clearly left a deep impression on the youngster, who admitted the advice changed the way he now views batting in T20 cricket.“He told me to focus on that, not just on hitting big shots. That advice really stuck with me,” Mukul concluded. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are playing their last league match of the IPL 2026 season today, against the Punjab Kings (PBKS). Lucknow has already been officially eliminated from the IPL 2026 playoff race. They are playing strictly for pride to finish their season on a winning note and avoid the bottom spots of the table. Unlike LSG, this is a do-or-die, must-win match for the Punjab Kings. Sitting in 5th place, PBKS desperately needs a victory tonight to keep their fading playoff qualification hopes alive before relying on Sunday’s results.
