‘He has to play for India, no other option’ – Mukul Choudhary’s father sets target after breakout IPL knock

Following Mukul Choudhary’s match-winning heroics in IPL 2026, his father has now shared the inspiring story behind the youngster’s rise, revealing how the breakthrough knock is the result of a long-cherished dream that began years before he stepped onto the big stage.

The young LSG batter grabbed headlines with a stunning unbeaten knock against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens, playing a fearless innings under pressure. However, instead of soaking in the applause, Mukul’s first reaction was deeply personal.

“I dedicate this to my father. Even before he got married, he always thought of making his son a cricketer. My father had a dream that his son had to play cricket,” Mukul said after the game.

While the cricketing world celebrated the emergence of a new talent, his father, Dalip Choudhary, remained composed and grounded, offering a reality check despite the growing hype.

“It’s a normal thing. There is no excitement. Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare, Mushtaq Ali and IPL… he now has to play for the country. That is no other option for him,” Mukul’s father said to Cricbuzz.

Dalip’s vision for his son wasn’t accidental, it was sparked years ago by watching cricketing greats and realising the stature the sport carries in India. He saw what Sachin Tendulkar is receiving just by playing for the country and decided to make a Mukul a cricketer in future.  

“I’ve seen players like Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar on television. We used to play cricket in our village with very limited facilities. I remember hearing that Tendulkar had a Ferrari worth around ₹1 crore, with as much paid in taxes,” he recalled.

“That made me realise how much money and respect there was in cricket. From that moment, I decided that my children would become cricketers,” he exclaimed.

Coming from a humble background in Rajasthan, Dalip ensured that Mukul’s journey was rooted in discipline and hard work rather than shortcuts.

“I trained Mukul the hard way for 10-12 years. I used to take him to the ground in the morning and evening, made him work out, and took care of his diet. It is very important to become an athlete before becoming a cricketer, so I focused on that first,” he concluded.

Mukul first caught the attention of scouts during the Under-23 List A tournament, where he smashed 617 runs in just nine matches, the highest in the competition, along with a record 39 sixes.

Those numbers translated seamlessly into the IPL, as he announced himself in style with a blistering 54* off just 24 balls, including seven towering sixes against KKR.