Sanju Samson has quickly become a key piece of Chennai Super Kings’ middle-to-top order plans in IPL 2026, and on Monday he added another milestone to an already impressive season. The opener has already racked up two centuries and a half-century in the tournament this year. In the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Samson also surpassed MS Dhoni’s long-standing IPL benchmark for the most runs by a Chennai-designated wicketkeeper in a single season. Dhoni had compiled 461 runs in 16 innings back in 2013, while Samson’s knock on Monday brought him to 477 in 13 matches, after he made 27 against SRH.
Samson’s momentum set the tone for CSK as Dewald Brevis delivered a decisive cameo to help Chennai post 180/7 in 20 overs in Match 63 of IPL 2026 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Dewald finished with 44, and that innings—coming at the right stage—helped CSK reach a competitive total after a few early disruptions.
Chasing a big start, CSK attacked from the first over. Samson looked intent on taking the game to the bowler immediately, launching Nitish Kumar Reddy for a six on the opening ball. He then followed up with two more scoring shots in the same over as Chennai piled up 17 runs early on.
The aggressive rhythm carried into the next over as well, with Samson striking Praful Hinge for three consecutive fours. With boundaries coming at regular intervals, CSK maintained a high tempo throughout the Power-play and appeared to be steering the innings comfortably.
But the first breakthrough for SRH arrived when Pat Cummins struck. Samson tried to keep the attack going, edged a delivery and walked off after a brisk 27 off just 13 balls. His brief stay included four boundaries and a six, and it also meant CSK had lost their first wicket while still keeping the scoreboard moving.
Urvil Patel then tried to keep CSK’s acceleration intact, smashing Cummins for two sixes in a single over. However, his contribution was cut short soon after. Sakib Husain fooled him with a slower ball and clean-bowled him in the fifth over. Urvil made 13 runs from eight deliveries, leaving Chennai with work to do after two early wickets.
With the innings unsettled, CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad shifted gears to stabilize and rebuild. He received solid support from Kartik Sharma, who looked comfortable from the outset and played some attractive strokes. Sharma took charge of the scoring in the eighth over, hitting Praful Hinge for two fours and a six, before adding another maximum in the next over. The partnership ensured CSK could keep a healthy run rate despite the early losses.
SRH turned again to Cummins for a breakthrough in the 10th over. Kartik Sharma was caught in a tight spot by a slower delivery outside the off stump and was dismissed after making 32 off 19 balls, supported by three fours and two sixes. By the halfway stage, Chennai were 91/3.
Cummins struck once more soon after, removing Gaikwad. The CSK skipper struggled to find his acceleration and managed only 15 off 21 balls. With that wicket, Cummins also completed 200 wickets in T20 cricket, adding a personal landmark to SRH’s growing control.
After Gaikwad’s exit, Shivam Dube and Dewald Brevis put together a crucial recovery stand that steadied the innings and prevented SRH from running away with momentum. Brevis began aggressively, countering SRH’s bowling with confident shot-making. In the 14th over, he took on Nitish Kumar Reddy for 18 runs, helping CSK move beyond the 120-run mark.
Dube then started finding the boundary as well, striking a six off Eshan Malinga in the 15th over. Brevis continued to press the advantage, hitting a four and a six off Cummins as Chennai reached 144/4 after 16 overs, with the partnership proving increasingly dangerous for SRH.
SRH finally managed to break through in the 18th over when Eshan Malinga dismissed Brevis. The young batter was bowled for 44 off 27 balls, an innings that included four sixes and two fours. Just one over later, Sakib Husain struck again as he removed Shivam Dube. Dube made 26 off 23 balls, with three fours and one six, further tightening the chase picture for SRH.
In the final phase, Prashant Veer provided late value with a brisk cameo of 11. That finishing push ensured Chennai crossed the 180-run line and finished on 180/7 in their 20 overs.
For Sunrisers Hyderabad, Pat Cummins was the most effective with figures of 3/28 from four overs. Sakib Husain took two wickets, while Praful Hinge and Eshan Malinga each claimed one wicket as SRH kept CSK’s total within reach despite the late surge.
