📅 April 09 2026 | By Pulse India News Desk
🏟️ Match Details
Match: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants, Match 15, IPL 2026
Date: April 9, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM IST
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Result: Lucknow Super Giants won on last ball thriller
Highlight: Mukul Choudhary stunning final-ball moment
🔰 The Bigger Picture
On a high-scoring Eden Gardens pitch, Kolkata Knight Riders built a solid total and looked in control for most of the game. However, Lucknow Super Giants stayed alive through crucial partnerships and smart chasing under pressure. The match ultimately came down to the final delivery, where Mukul Choudhary’s last-ball brilliance sealed a dramatic victory for LSG, breaking KKR hearts in a thriller.
🔥 FINAL OVER DRAMA (Ball-by-Ball)
Equation: Lucknow Super Giants needed 14 runs off 6 balls
Bowler: Vaibhav Arora
19.1: 1 RUN – Avesh Khan tucks it into the vacant mid-wicket region and gives strike back to Mukul Choudhary (13 off 5)
19.2: SIX – Mukul Choudhary pulls a short ball flat over deep backward square leg, and suddenly the pressure shifts hard on KKR (7 off 4)
19.3: DOT BALL – Vaibhav Arora fires in a superb yorker outside off, and Mukul swings through thin air (7 off 3)
19.4: DOT BALL – Another excellent yorker, Mukul tries to scoop, misses completely, and KKR are back in control (7 off 2)
19.5: SIX – Mukul Choudhary lofts it magnificently over sweeper cover, brings up his fifty, and levels the scores in stunning fashion (1 needed off 1)
19.6: BYE, 1 RUN – Mukul misses the pull, but they scamper through. Angkrish Raghuvanshi has a direct-hit chance but misses, and LSG complete one of the great heists to win the match (LSG win by 1 wicket)
👉 From 14 needed… to two sixes… to a last-ball bye
👉 Mukul Choudhary turned chaos into one of IPL 2026’s wildest finishes
🎯 Key Turning Point
19.3 & 19.4 (Back-to-Back Dot Balls) – Vaibhav Arora executed two perfect yorkers when LSG needed 7 off 4.
For a moment, KKR had complete control and the match looked sealed.
👉 But one loose ball next delivery changed everything…
Mukul Choudhary capitalized instantly with a six on 19.5, flipping the pressure back and leveling the game.
KKR vs LSG Scorecard
IPL 2026 – Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Lucknow Super Giants won by 3 wickets
Lucknow Super Giants Bowling
| Bowler | O | R | W |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Shami | 4 | 27 | 0 |
| Prince Yadav | 4 | 47 | 1 |
| Manimaran Siddharth | 4 | 34 | 1 |
| Digvesh Singh Rathi | 4 | 25 | 1 |
| Avesh Khan | 4 | 44 | 1 |
Kolkata Knight Riders Bowling
| Bowler | O | R | W |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaibhav Arora | 4 | 38 | 2 |
| Anukul Roy | 4 | 32 | 2 |
| Navdeep Saini | 3 | 37 | 0 |
| Sunil Narine | 4 | 13 | 1 |
| Kartik Tyagi | 3 | 31 | 1 |
| Cameron Green | 2 | 28 | 1 |
🟣 FIRST INNINGS – KKR BUILD STRONG, FINISH SMART
On a batting-friendly Eden Gardens pitch, Kolkata Knight Riders paced their innings well, combining stability at the top with a calculated finish in the death overs.
⚡ Phase 1: Powerplay (Overs 1–6)
KKR started positively but not recklessly.
Finn Allen provided early intent, while Ajinkya Rahane ensured stability after the early movement with controlled stroke play.
👉 End of Powerplay: ~50/1
👉 Balanced start with wickets in hand
🧠 Phase 2: Middle Overs (Overs 7–15)
This is where KKR built the backbone of their innings.
Rahane continued anchoring, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi impressed with a fluent knock. The pair rotated strike well and punished loose deliveries to keep the run rate steady.
👉 Raghuvanshi’s 45 added momentum
👉 Partnerships kept scoreboard ticking
💣 Phase 3: Death Overs (Overs 16–20)
KKR shifted gears in the final phase.
Rovman Powell and Cameron Green provided the finishing kick, accelerating when it mattered most and pushing the total to a competitive score.
👉 Powell’s late surge boosted the total
👉 Smart finishing without losing wickets
🔥 Final Score: 181/4
A strong total on this pitch — competitive, but just short of being match-winning.
🔵 SECOND INNINGS – LSG HOLD NERVE, PULL OFF LAST-BALL HEIST
Chasing 182 at Eden Gardens, Lucknow Super Giants had a mixed start but stayed alive through key partnerships before delivering one of the most dramatic finishes of IPL 2026.
⚡ Phase 1: Powerplay (Overs 1–6)
LSG began with intent but couldn’t fully dominate.
Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram showed glimpses of aggression, but KKR managed to pick up wickets at regular intervals to keep things in check.
👉 End of Powerplay: ~45/2
👉 Balanced contest early on
🧠 Phase 2: Middle Overs (Overs 7–15)
This phase kept LSG in the hunt.
Ayush Badoni played a crucial knock under pressure, anchoring the chase and building partnerships. However, wickets at key moments prevented LSG from taking complete control.
👉 Badoni’s 54 stabilized the innings
👉 Required rate stayed manageable
💣 Phase 3: Death Overs (Overs 16–20)
This is where the game turned into absolute drama.
Mukul Choudhary stepped up when it mattered the most, playing a fearless knock and taking the game deep. With wickets falling around him, he kept his composure and targeted the right deliveries.
👉 Equation came down to 14 off last over
👉 Two massive sixes changed everything
And then…
🔥 Last ball chaos
🔥 Missed direct hit
🔥 LSG steal victory
🔥 Final Score: 182/7
A chase defined by nerves, timing, and one unforgettable final over.
👉 From pressure… to perfection… in 6 balls
👉 Mukul Choudhary – the unlikely hero of the night
📈 Win Probability Shift
How the game swung between KKR control and LSG’s last-over heist.
After KKR powerplay: Balanced start
KKR 55% | LSG 45%
Middle overs: KKR build strong platform
KKR 65% | LSG 35%
At innings break: KKR post 181/4
KKR 60% | LSG 40%
After LSG powerplay: Game stays alive
KKR 55% | LSG 45%
Middle overs: Badoni keeps LSG in hunt
KKR 52% | LSG 48%
19th over: KKR almost seal it
KKR 75% | LSG 25%
Final over (after 2 dots): KKR in control
KKR 80% | LSG 20%
19.5 SIX: Mukul flips the game
KKR 40% | LSG 60%
Match End: LSG complete the heist
KKR 0% | LSG 100%
🏏 KKR vs LSG Playing XI & Impact Players
- Ajinkya Rahane (C)
- Finn Allen ✈
- Cameron Green ✈
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi (WK)
- Rinku Singh
- Rovman Powell ✈
- Ramandeep Singh
- Anukul Roy
- Sunil Narine ✈
- Navdeep Saini
- Kartik Tyagi
🔄 Impact Player
🟢 Vaibhav Arora
- Mitchell Marsh ✈
- Aiden Markram ✈
- Rishabh Pant (C & WK)
- Nicholas Pooran ✈
- Abdul Samad
- Mukul Choudhary
- Mohammad Shami
- Avesh Khan
- Digvesh Singh Rathi
- Prince Yadav
- Manimaran Siddharth
🔄 Impact Player
🟢 Ayush Badoni
🏆 Top Performers
🟢 Best Batter
Mukul Choudhary
54* (27)
⚡ Game Changer
Ayush Badoni
Held the innings together with a crucial 54 under pressure
🎯 Best Bowler
Vaibhav Arora
2 wickets & nearly defended the final over under pressure
😱 Moment of Match
Final Over Chaos
14 needed, two sixes by Mukul, and a missed direct hit on the last ball sealed one of IPL 2026’s wildest finishes
🎯 WHAT WENT WRONG FOR KKR?
❌ 1. Not enough runs in a good start
KKR built a strong platform with Rahane and Raghuvanshi, but couldn’t fully capitalize to push beyond a 190+ total on a batting-friendly pitch.
❌ 2. Couldn’t break partnerships in middle overs
Ayush Badoni’s steady innings kept LSG in the chase, and KKR failed to completely shut down the momentum during the middle phase.
❌ 3. Death over execution slipped
Despite two brilliant dot balls in the final over, one loose delivery turned into a six, bringing LSG right back into the game.
❌ 4. Missed direct-hit chance
Angkrish Raghuvanshi had a golden opportunity on the last ball, but the missed direct hit allowed LSG to sneak through for the winning run.
❌ 5. Lost control at the final moment
KKR dominated large parts of the game, but failed to close it out under pressure — a classic case of a match slipping away in the final over.
🌟 Player of the Match
Mukul Choudhary
54* (27)
Mukul Choudhary produced one of the most dramatic knocks of IPL 2026, stepping up under extreme pressure in a tense run chase. With wickets falling around him, he kept his composure and took the game deep against a disciplined KKR attack.
His fearless hitting in the final over — including two massive sixes — completely flipped the momentum and brought LSG back from the brink of defeat.
👉 From near defeat… to last-ball victory — a knock that defined the match
🧠 FINAL ANALYSIS
Kolkata Knight Riders built the game… but Lucknow Super Giants stole it at the very end.
After posting a competitive 181, KKR looked in control for most of the match. Their innings was well-paced, with Rahane and Raghuvanshi building the foundation, while Powell and Green provided a strong finish.
But the chase turned into pure drama.
Ayush Badoni (54) anchored the innings brilliantly, keeping LSG alive even as wickets fell at regular intervals. Just when the match seemed to be slipping away, Mukul Choudhary stepped up under pressure.
KKR tightened the game at the death.
Two perfect yorkers in the final over…
👉 LSG needed 7 off 4
👉 Then 7 off 2
KKR were moments away from sealing it.
And then came the twist.
Mukul Choudhary launched a stunning six to level the scores… and on the final ball, a missed direct hit allowed LSG to complete the heist.
👉 KKR controlled 90% of the match
👉 LSG won the 10% that mattered most
👉 One missed moment changed everything
In the end, this wasn’t about who played better…
It was about who handled the final seconds better.
And Lucknow Super Giants delivered when it mattered the most sealing one of the most dramatic last-ball victories of IPL 2026.
