Mukesh Choudhary’s mother passed away on Tuesday following a long illness. After performing her last rites in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, he rejoined the squad the very next day. Despite the heavy emotional toll, he was included in the Playing XI for the high-stakes “El Clasico” of the IPL.
A Silent Tribute to Mukesh Choudhary’s Mother
When Mukesh Choudhary opened the attack and rattled Quinton de Kock’s stumps in his very first over, he didn’t celebrate with the usual intensity. Instead, he stood still, looked toward the sky, and pointed upwards in a quiet tribute, saying, “Maa, ye tere liye hai” (Mother, this is for you).
His teammates and captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, recognized the gravity of the moment. Every run-up and delivery carried the weight of his recent loss, yet he maintained his focus to provide the early breakthrough CSK desperately needed.
Match Highlights: CSK’s Record-Breaking Victory
While Mukesh Choudhary provided the emotional heart of the match, the rest of the team delivered a clinical performance to dismantle their arch-rivals on their home turf.
Samson’s Century: Sanju Samson played a breathtaking innings, scoring an unbeaten 101 off 54 balls, propelling CSK to a formidable total of 207/6.
Bowling Masterclass: Spinner Akeal Hosein tore through the MI batting lineup, finishing with figures of 4-17.
Historic Low for MI: Mumbai Indians were bundled out for 104 in 19 overs, marking their lowest-ever total against CSK in IPL history.
Records Broken at Wankhede (April 23, 2026):
| Record | Detail |
| MI’s Lowest Total vs CSK | 104 All Out (Previous: 136/8 in 2021) |
| CSK’s Biggest Win Margin | 103 Runs |
| MI’s Heaviest Loss at Wankhede | 103 Runs (Surpassing 39 runs vs RCB) |
Captain’s Praise: “All Glory to Him”
Following the victory, Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad bypassed the usual celebrations to embrace Mukesh Choudhary. During the post-match presentation, Gaikwad was full of praise for the pacer’s resilience.
“Pretty tough on him. Hats off to him, coming in that situation it takes a lot mentally. He came back for the team because he knew we needed him. All glory to him,” Gaikwad stated.
This win moves CSK significantly up the points table, providing a much-needed boost after a string of losses. However, for the “Yellow Brigade,” this match will be remembered less for the statistics and more for the courage shown by a son playing for his mother.