IPL 2026: How Mukul Choudhary’s father almost faced jail time, sold house to help son’s cricket journey

Twenty-one-year-old Mukul Choudhary’s emergence as a match-winner for Lucknow Super Giants is as much a story of on-field promise as it is of years of sacrifice by his father, who sold their house, regular visits by loan shark and even faced jail time to support his son’s cricketing dream, TOI reports.

Choudhary, who recently delivered a decisive knock in the IPL, had earlier struggled in a tense chase against Sunrisers Hyderabad, leaving him visibly emotional. His father, Dalip Choudhary, watching from their home in Jhunjhunu, noticed his son’s distress during a video call. “Maine pucha usse, beta ro liya? (I asked him, son, did you cry?). He nodded and smiled,” he said.

“He was frustrated that he could not finish the game. He kept saying that the LSG management had bought him for so much money, so what was the point if he could not win matches for them? He was distraught. He promised me that in the next match, he would make everyone proud, and he delivered on that promise,” he added.

A father’s gamble to build a cricketer

Hailing from Khedaro Ki Dhani village in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district, Mukul’s journey has been shaped by his father’s unwavering determination. Dalip, who once aspired to clear the Rajasthan Administrative Service exam and later ventured into real estate, struggled financially but remained committed to his son’s future.

“I had a dream that if I ever had a son, he would play cricket. When so many people make it, why can’t my son?” he said.

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In 2016, the family moved to Sikar to enrol Mukul in a cricket academy. Faced with mounting expenses and no steady income, Dalip sold their house for Rs 21 lakh to fund his son’s training. He later started a hotel business with borrowed money but failed to repay instalments on time and was jailed briefly.

“I even went to jail, but I never committed fraud,” he said.

Despite criticism from relatives, who questioned his decisions, Dalip remained resolute. “They called me a madman. It only made my family stronger. Those words made me more determined that I was on the right path,” he added.

Breakthrough performances and recognition

Mukul’s performances began to justify the sacrifices. In the 2025-26 Under-23 List A Trophy, he emerged as the leading run-scorer with 617 runs, including two centuries and four fifties, at a strike rate of 142.49, hitting a tournament-high 39 sixes.

His form earned him a place in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he scored 173 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 198.85. Rajasthan Ranji coach Anshu Jain recalled a standout performance. “In the match against Delhi, we needed 26 runs to win, and the boy hit four sixes to seal the game,” he said.

Jain also highlighted his unique strokeplay and athleticism, noting his ability to execute unconventional shots with ease.

Emotional milestone and dedication

Bought by Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 2.60 crore, more than 13 times his base price, Mukul had promised his father that he would repay the loans taken to support his journey.

After a match-winning performance in Kolkata, the youngster dedicated his knock to his father and his idol MS Dhoni. “I would dedicate this performance to my father, who had decided even before marriage that his son would play cricket,” he said.

“I always liked the way Dhoni finished games. He could hit a six even off a yorker. When you can hit that kind of delivery for six, the bowler is forced to think differently,” he added.

A journey defined by sacrifice and belief

Mukul’s rise reflects years of struggle marked by financial hardship, social criticism and personal setbacks. From selling their home to enduring debt and uncertainty, his father’s sacrifices have played a defining role in shaping his career.

His breakthrough moment in the IPL is not just a sporting achievement but the culmination of a long journey driven by belief, resilience and a promise fulfilled.