IPL 2026: ‘Never Felt Like a New Franchise’- Sanju Samson On Maiden Ton For CSK

Sanju Samson delivered a calm yet decisive hundred and Jamie Overton produced 4/18 as Chennai Super Kings finally secured a first Chepauk victory of this season, beating Delhi Capitals and ending a run of six home games without success against the same opponent.

Samson finished unbeaten on 115 from 56 balls in yellow, guiding CSK to 212/2 on a surface that encouraged stroke play but still demanded control. The total looked slightly short at stages, yet Delhi collapsed under sustained pressure in the chase, with wickets falling often enough to keep the hosts comfortable.

Samson's Century Drives CSK Total Past 200

CSK’s innings had clear swings in tempo. The powerplay produced 61, which felt modest on this pitch. The final four overs added only 41, also under par. The surge arrived between overs seven and sixteen, when CSK hammered 107 runs and shifted the game from a cautious platform to a commanding position.

Ruturaj Gaikwad’s measured start slowed the early overs, which meant Samson needed time before attacking. Samson did not clear the ropes even once in the first ten overs. The first six came from the third ball of the eleventh over, a forceful pull that signalled a decisive change of intent and rhythm.

Sanju Samson On Ayush Mhatre's Mature Innings

Ayush Mhatre injected much-needed urgency during the middle overs, striking 59 from 36 balls and giving Samson a reliable partner. Mhatre was retired out in the eighteenth over after playing the designated aggressor role and stretching Delhi’s thin bowling resources during a critical period when CSK sought insurance runs, not excess.

Samson stressed the value of those stands. "Very important to have great partnerships," Samson said afterwards. "Ayush has shown so much maturity." With CSK’s bowling options limited, Samson treated every extra run as protection rather than a luxury, aware that Delhi’s batting could challenge any target at Chepauk.

Sanju Samson's Mindset Shift

Samson’s hundred came after a mixed spell since three strong World Cup innings that had altered expectations. There had been big scores, then quiet games, then another high score, raising questions about consistency. This knock arrived after three straight CSK defeats and followed one of the shortest team meetings of the season.

"We had a meeting of 50 seconds today even after losing three matches," Samson said. "It never felt like a different franchise. People are so nice." Samson also reflected on personal challenges. "I have failed a lot," Samson said. "Mind gets a bit here and there. I need to know what my basics are. We did some good sessions with the support staff."

Sanju Samson's Promise To Chepauk

The moment Samson reached three figures captured the mood at Chepauk. An outside edge ran away to third man, Samson pumped both fists, raised the bat, then produced Rajinikanth’s famous "Padayappa" salute as the stadium erupted in long whistles and cheers that had been building for weeks.

Off the field, it had been more than three weeks since Samson had declared, "Thatarom, thookurom" — smash it, lift the cup — and CSK supporters had been waiting for an innings that matched those words. Samson later revealed the gesture had a different target. "That was for Fleming," Samson said of coach Stephen Fleming. "I know how challenging it can be. I just wanted to dedicate this to him."

Strong Start From DC

For all the noise around Samson’s effort, CSK’s bowlers still needed to close out the contest. Delhi began the chase sharply, with KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka scoring freely and making 212 appear vulnerable. For a period, the home crowd grew tense as boundaries came regularly and the required rate stayed manageable.

The tone changed within two deliveries. Khaleel Ahmed dismissed Rahul with the last ball of the fifth over. One ball later, Anshul Kamboj induced Nissanka into a mistimed stroke to mid-on. In the following over, Sarfaraz Khan dived full length to the left to remove Axar Patel with a low catch that reignited Chepauk’s voice.

Overton's Disciplined Line And Length

Once the early surge from DC ended, Jamie Overton settled the contest with a disciplined spell. Overton claimed four wickets for 18 runs, repeatedly striking the hard length, extracting awkward bounce and denying Delhi’s middle order both room and stability. Every attempted rebuild met resistance and ended with another wicket.

Delhi captain Axar Patel admitted the chase slipped away through mistakes in the field and batting collapses. "Chasing 213 was possible, but our fielding let us down. Wickets kept falling in clusters." Noor Ahmad managed a wicket, the first since January, but conceded more than ten runs an over, underlining CSK’s reliance on hitting aggressive, consistent lengths.