'Not Reliable': Sanju Samson Wicket Sparks CSK Collapse as Chennai Slip to 28/3 vs GT

Chennai Super Kings endured a disastrous start against Gujarat Titans after losing three wickets inside the powerplay, putting them on the back foot early in their IPL 2026 clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

After Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill won the toss and opted to bowl, his pace attack delivered instantly, reducing CSK to 28/3 at the end of the powerplay and leaving captain Ruturaj Gaikwad with the responsibility of rebuilding the innings.

Kagiso Rabada Dismisses Sanju Samson After Early Pressure

The biggest early breakthrough came when Kagiso Rabada removed Sanju Samson, who had just completed a major personal milestone of 5,000 IPL runs moments earlier.

Rabada kept testing Samson with sharp pace and movement outside off stump. After beating him twice in the same over, the South African quick finally got his reward as Samson edged one behind to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

Samson's dismissal for 11 off 15 balls dealt an early blow to CSK, especially given his strong form coming into the match following a century in the previous game.

Fans React to Sanju Samson Early Dismissal

Sanju Samson's wicket triggered strong reactions across social media, with fans expressing frustration over the early collapse and heavy reliance on the CSK wicketkeeper-batter.

Some supporters compared Samson's approach against Rabada to recent aggressive knocks seen elsewhere, suggesting the risk did not pay off on a lively surface.

Others pointed out that Samson's struggles against seam movement remain an area of concern, especially on pitches offering early assistance to fast bowlers.

There was also criticism directed at the middle-order dismissals, with several reactions calling Urvil Patel and Sarfaraz Khan's shot selection reckless at a crucial stage of the innings.

Many fans noted that CSK appeared overly dependent on Samson's contributions, with the team immediately looking vulnerable once he departed early.

Two More Wickets Deepen CSK's Early Collapse

The early wicket triggered a chain reaction, with Gujarat Titans striking twice more to put Chennai under serious pressure.

Urvil Patel briefly showed promise with a crisp boundary but attempted an aggressive shot soon after, only to sky the ball straight to Jason Holder in the field. The dismissal handed Rabada his second wicket in quick succession.

Moments later, Sarfaraz Khan, introduced as the Impact Player, failed to make an impression. Mohammed Siraj struck immediately, dismissing Sarfaraz for a golden duck after he mistimed a pull shot and was caught inside the circle.

By the end of the powerplay, CSK had slipped to 28/3, marking one of their worst starts of the season.

The early breakthroughs handed Gujarat Titans complete control of the contest, while Chennai now face an uphill task to recover from their shaky start.