Sanju Samson made history in IPL 2026 with a special performance against Delhi Capitals. He scored an unbeaten 87 off 52 balls while chasing 156. His innings had 6 sixes and 7 fours. He stayed till the end and finished the game for CSK, helping them secure their fifth win.
The big moment came through his partnership with Kartik Sharma. They added 114 runs together in just 66 balls. This was not just a match-winning stand, it also created a record.
Samson became the first player ever to be part of two 100-plus partnerships against Delhi Capitals in the same IPL season. Earlier, he had already put up a 113-run stand in the previous meeting between the teams.
This makes his impact even bigger, as he has delivered in both matches against DC this season. Ruturaj Gaikwad still holds the record for most 100-run stands against DC overall. But those came in different seasons. Samson is the first to do it twice in a single edition.
He was named player of the match for his knock. After the game, he said he focused on basics and trusted his game. He also said he did not chase a personal hundred and instead focused on finishing the match, which gave him more satisfaction.
CSK’s Season Hinges on Sanju Samson Form
Sanju Samson has basically defined CSK’s season so far.
The numbers make it very clear. When he scores more than 40, CSK win every time. 4 matches, 4 wins. When he scores below 40, CSK struggle badly. 6 matches, only 1 win. That is a huge difference.
His big knocks have come in key games. The 115* against DC gave CSK their first win. The 101* against MI powered a big total. And the recent 87* again helped them chase comfortably. Even his 48 against KKR helped in a solid win.
But when he fails, the team collapses. Like the match against SRH where he scored just 4 and CSK lost. Across all losses, he has only 40 runs in 5 innings. That shows how much the team depends on him.
Ruturaj Gaikwad has also said he is the backbone of the batting. And the stats back that fully. In wins, Samson has scored 362 runs at a massive average. In losses, his average drops to single digits. If Samson plays well, they look strong. If he gets out early, the team looks weak.
CSK Back in Playoff Race but Still Depend on Sanju Samson to Stay Alive
CSK’s season has turned around in a big way. After losing their first three matches, they looked out of the race early. But now they have won 5 of their last 7 games and are back in the playoff fight with 10 points from 10 matches. They are currently 6th on the table.
The biggest factor is still Sanju Samson. The pattern has not changed. When he scores above 40, CSK win every time. When he fails, the team mostly loses. That trend is still shaping their season.
For playoffs, the path is clear. They have 4 matches left. If they reach 14 points, they still depend on other results. If they reach 16 points, they control their own chances. So they need to win at least 3 of the remaining 4 games.
The upcoming matches are very important. Two games are against Lucknow Super Giants, who are struggling, so those are must-win. Then they face strong teams like Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans, which will be tougher tests.
There are positives beyond Samson too. Ruturaj Gaikwad has found form again with back-to-back good scores, which helps the top order. Kartik Sharma has also stepped up as a finisher with important runs in recent games.
The bowling has improved a lot. In the first 3 matches, they took only 10 wickets and had a high economy. In the last 7 games, they have taken 51 wickets and reduced the economy to around 8. That is a big change.
FAQs
Q. How is Sanju Samson’s form this season?
A. Sanju Samson is in much better form this season with 400 runs.
Q. What is Mitchell Starc’s main role in this match?
A. His main job is to take early wickets in the powerplay.
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