sanju samson He finally started his 2026 IPL campaign with a brilliant century in Chennai Super Kings' 23-run win against Delhi Capitals at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. His unbeaten 115 came in just 56 balls and was the backbone of Super Kings' lead of 212/2 in 20 overs. With 15 fours and four sixes, he displayed a variety of strokes and impeccable field manipulation in his innings.
The 31-year-old dedicated his innings to CSK head coach Stephen Fleming, who came under scrutiny from players and experts last week as the team lost its first three matches of the season on a consecutive basis.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Samson said, “That was for Fleming. I know how challenging it can be to lead and manage a team for a long period of time. I just wanted to dedicate this innings to him.”
Samson came into being as a major talking point in IPL 2026 after his trade with the Super Kings saw Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran move to Rajasthan Royals. He spoke about how welcomed he has been in Chennai and felt the need to perform well after the team's initial defeat.
He said, “It didn't feel like I had joined a new franchise. The group is very welcoming. Even after three losses, the atmosphere remained great. That really helped me settle in. I felt I had to stand up and contribute, to show that we are still in the tournament.”
Samson comes into the IPL after a hugely successful T20 World Cup campaign. He scored 321 runs in five matches, with match-defining innings in the final game of the Super 8, the semi-final and the final, helping India win the trophy. His exploits earned him the Player of the Tournament award.
Despite this, he had a disappointing start to the IPL with scores of 6, 7 and 9. Samson talked about getting back to basics in his batting and relying on the methods that have brought him success.
Samson said, “Failures bring doubts, no matter how much experience you have. I have to go back to the basics – focusing on timing, seeing the ball closely and trusting what has worked for me over the years. Mentally, it's about finding that zone again and sticking to my processes. We had good preparation sessions, and I'm glad it came together today.”
This was Samson's fourth century in the IPL, and his first fifty-plus score for the yellow team. After finally opening their account in IPL 2026, the Super Kings will host Kolkata Knight Riders on April 14 at Chepauk.
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