'Mera Beta Heera Hai': A Father's Sacrifice And Rs 3 Crore In Loans Behind Mukul Choudhary's IPL Rise

A father’s sacrifice, a son’s dream - Dalip Choudhary gave up everything to back Mukul’s cricket journey. Today, that belief is unfolding into a remarkable IPL story.

It is not uncommon for parents to steer their children toward demanding, competitive paths, often at considerable personal cost. In scientific literature, this is broadly understood through the idea of parental investment: the willingness to trade one’s own comfort, security, and even long-held ambitions for a child’s future.

Dalip Choudhary of Jhunjhunu is one such parent whose life reflects that commitment. Academically strong and deeply passionate about cricket, he once harboured dreams he could not fully pursue. When he married in 2003, he made a quiet promise to himself: if he had a son, he would give him the opportunities he never had. A year later, Mukul was born.

Now 21, Mukul Choudhary has emerged as a rising star for Lucknow Super Giants. His whirlwind knock against Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday not only sealed a memorable win but also earned him the Player of the Match award – one he dedicated to his father.

Behind that moment lies years of deliberate nurturing. Dalip focused on building his son as an all-round athlete, prioritising physical development over early specialisation.

“In 2015, I took him from our town, Khedaro Ki Dhani, in Rajasthan to Sikar because there was no proper cricket academy in Jhunjhunu. I enrolled him in SBS Cricket Academy there. His mother was teaching in the same school, and the academy was also part of that institution. Our daughter also started studying there," Mukul’s father tells News18 Cricketnext.

“Later, when he transitioned from Under-19 to the Under-23 level, we shifted him to Aravali Cricket Academy in Jaipur," he added.

At first glance, it may seem like a familiar story of a parent seeking better facilities for a child. What sets it apart is the scale, and persistence, of the sacrifices involved.

Dalip, a strong student, once aspired to join the Rajasthan Administrative Services (RAS). He spent years in Jaipur preparing, even clearing the prelims, but could not advance further. Over time, mounting responsibilities forced a decisive choice between continuing his own pursuit and fully backing his son’s career.

“By 2015, Mukul was growing and needed serious cricket exposure. At that point, I had to make a clear choice. Ya to main RAS ban jaun, ya Mukul cricketer ban jaaye (Either I continue chasing my own dream of becoming an RAS officer or fully commit to making Mukul a cricketer). I chose my son’s career," Dalip said.

That decision was only the beginning. Supporting a budding cricketer required sustained financial backing, often without letting the child feel the strain. Dalip found ways to keep that support going, even as the costs mounted.

“In 2017, I sold that house for Rs 21 lakh to support his career. I left my wife in Sikar with Mukul while I continued small property work," Dalip tells this website.

“In 2018, I tried to create a steady income source by buying a small piece of land and building a modest hotel. For that, I had to take a loan of Rs 1 crore from Axis Bank, which I am still repaying.

“Additionally, I borrowed around Rs 1 crore from my two elder brothers, who are in the Army. Apart from that, I took Rs 50-60 lakh from friends and relatives. In total, I have loans of around Rs 2.5 to Rs 3 crore," he added.

Managing those debts was far from straightforward. There were setbacks along the way, but they did little to shake his resolve.

“I always believed he is a diamond, and when he shines, he will repay everything in one go. And today, that belief is turning into reality," he added.

That belief also shaped Mukul’s training journey. Dalip ensured his son had access to top coaching environments, taking him across cities to refine his game.

Mukul trained under Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach, Dinesh Lad, in Mumbai, and also spent time with former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh’s father, Yograj, in Chandigarh.

“I never allowed any compromise in Mukul’s needs, be it was his diet, training, equipment, or academy fees," Dalip said.

“I took him to different places for training, including Gurgaon, Mumbai to train under Rohit Sharma’s coach Dinesh Lad, and even to Yograj Singh for almost a week. His fees alone are very high, somewhere around Rs 2.5 lakh for a week, but I managed everything," he added.

The results are now visible. On the night Mukul smashed an unbeaten half-century to pull off a stunning win against KKR, the first call he made was home.

“After every match, he calls me first. Then he adds his mother on a video call. It becomes a family moment, we all join, including his sister, his uncle and a cousin brother. We are a tight-knit group of six people who constantly support and look after him," Dalip said.

Those close to the Choudhary family understand what has gone into this journey.

For Dalip, the Rs 2.4 crore IPL contract with Lucknow Super Giants is not a culmination, but a continuation – and one he believes will not distract his son.

“I never let him feel any shortage while growing up. Even when it came to equipment, I encouraged him to choose the best. If he said he wanted a Rs20,000 bat, I would tell him to get a Rs 40,000 one.

“My idea was simple – focus on the game, not on saving money. When a player is free from such worries, he can fully concentrate on performance."

“At the same time, he understands his responsibilities. We haven’t had to sit him down for lectures – he knows that staying focused on his game is the most important thing," he said.

Ignoring scepticism from relatives, Dalip relied on his own judgment. For him, conviction once formed is enough – regardless of outside opinion.

“Life is full of struggles; nothing comes easy. If others can succeed in cricket, why can’t my son," he concluded.

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