Sanju Samson finally got his timing back after three matches in which he failed to make an impact, and Chennai Super Kings rode his blistering form to a 23-run victory over Delhi Capitals at Chepauk on Saturday—CSK’s first win of IPL 2026. Samson struck an unbeaten 115 off 56 balls, while Ayush Mhatre contributed 59 off 36 as the pair combined for a 113-run stand for the second wicket. Chennai posted 212 for two, and Delhi’s chase unravelled under Jamie Overton’s devastating figures of 4/18, as the Capitals were bowled out for 189. Tristan Stubbs tried to keep the contest alive with a gritty fifty, but CSK held their nerve.
CSK innings: Samson and Mhatre build the platform
- After being asked to bat first, Samson produced his first major score in a CSK shirt, delivering the kind of innings that immediately changed the tempo at Chepauk.
- He forged a strong second-wicket partnership with Mhatre, with the duo adding 113 runs in just a little over 11 overs to lift Chennai to a commanding total.
- Samson reached his fourth IPL century overall—his first for CSK and his first of the season—bringing the home crowd fully into the moment.
- The innings followed the classic pattern of Samson’s best work: early uncertainty in previous games gave way to crisp footwork, sharp vision, and clean hand-eye coordination that sent shots to all parts of the ground.
- Even though captain Ruturaj Gaikwad couldn’t find the same acceleration during the Power Play, the opening wicket alliance of 62 was largely powered by Samson’s attacking intent.
- Samson showed early signs with consecutive boundaries against Mukesh Kumar, including an authoritative six over extra cover off left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav that stood out among his biggest hits.
- He benefited from a dropped chance as well: on 55, Pathum Nissanka missed a difficult catch near long-off off Axar Patel, and Samson made Delhi pay for the reprieve.
- Samson brought up his fifty in 26 balls—one quicker than Mhatre’s fifty—and completed his hundred in 52 balls as CSK kept climbing steadily.
- Mhatre, who looked particularly fluent, entertained the Chepauk crowd with controlled power until he was retired out after a well-compiled innings, which opened the door for Shivam Dube to come in.
Delhi chase: Overton’s burst turns the tide
- Chasing 213, Delhi made an aggressive start, reaching 61 in only five overs through a productive opening stand between KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka (41).
- Nissanka’s dismissal dented the chase: after a grassed chance earlier in the over—where Khaleel Ahmed dropped him off Anshul Kamboj—he was unable to capitalise and spooned the next delivery to Dewald Brevis at the edge of the circle.
- At 61 for two in 5.2 overs, Delhi still appeared to be in the hunt, but CSK altered their bowling approach at that stage.
- Chennai’s pacers—Overton, Khaleel, and Kamboj—began repeatedly landing the ball into the red-soil surface, extracting bounce and forcing Delhi batters to reconsider their shot selection.
- Sameer Rizvi and Axar Patel fell to deliveries that cramped their timing, and Sarfaraz Khan played a key role in Patel’s dismissal with a full-length diving catch at point.
- Even with David Miller and Tristan Stubbs still available, Delhi couldn’t wrest control back; Overton struck again, clipping Miller’s leg-stump bails with a hard-length ball to increase the pressure.
- Stubbs fought on with a 60-ball innings of 60, but the chase never gained momentum, and Delhi eventually fell short—finishing on 189 all out.
While it marked CSK’s first win of the season, Delhi suffered their second consecutive defeat. The decisive factor was Chennai’s ability to turn a promising chase into a collapse, anchored by Samson’s dominant batting display and Overton’s lethal burst with the ball in the middle overs.
