Sanju Samson appears to be running out of time to rediscover his best touch as Chennai Super Kings suffered yet another setback in IPL 2026 on Saturday, with the India opener again failing to make a meaningful difference. CSK travelled to Hyderabad with momentum after two consecutive wins, but the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling unit took control and exposed a fragile CSK batting display.
Key takeaways
- Chennai Super Kings extended their losing run after falling to Sunrisers Hyderabad, despite starting the match on a two-game winning streak.
- Samson’s struggles continued in IPL 2026, leaving him with little impact in another chase/innings where CSK needed stability.
- Even though he struck an unbeaten 115* against Delhi Capitals, most of his other contributions have been low in the tournament.
- In the Orange Cap race, Samson is 12th with 192 runs from six matches at an average of 38.40, striking at 174.54.
- CSK’s plan with Samson appears to be leaning toward a more anchor-like role, but timing and shot selection have not consistently matched the requirement.
From T20 World Cup hero to IPL 2026 inconsistency
While it may be slightly harsh to pin CSK’s woes entirely on Samson, there is a case to be made that his form—given his experience and his stature following India’s T20 World Cup-winning campaign—has not met expectations. Samson was brought into Chennai ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, in a deal that also saw Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran join Rajasthan Royals. The trade was widely seen as one of the standout moves of the league’s recent history, but for the former RR captain, the results have not followed the promise.
Samson’s inconsistency is not new. It was again on display during India’s series against New Zealand before the 2026 T20 World Cup, where he struggled and ultimately found himself left out of the playing XI for the ICC event. His turnaround came after a breakthrough in the Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe, where he produced a dramatic revival. He then delivered an unbeaten 97 against West Indies, followed by knocks of 89 in both the semi-final and the final. His performances earned him the Player of the Tournament award, even though he played only five matches.
After the World Cup final, it looked as if Samson had returned to his peak and had firmly re-established himself as India’s leading T20 opener. Yet, by April 18, he is once again stuck in a difficult stretch of form while batting for CSK.
The Hyderabad incident highlights a tough run
One innings did stand out: Samson struck an unbeaten 115* against Delhi Capitals. But away from that score, his returns have been overwhelmingly poor—his other tallies have been 6, 7, 9, 48 and 7.
Against SRH, he managed only seven runs from three balls, and even that outcome felt fortunate for CSK. In the chase, he nearly paid immediately after pulling Praful Hinge’s delivery straight toward fine leg. The ball carried enough to clear the fielder and reach the boundary for six, even though it looked like the wicket was already within reach. Hinge believed he had taken the wicket and celebrated with his arms out. However, the next delivery of the second over brought the dismissal as Samson was sent back to the CSK dugout, falling to Nitish Kumar Reddy.
On that second-over ball, Samson went for a pull shot after receiving a short delivery outside off. The shot ended up as a toe-ended catch at mid-on, with Klaasen making the grab.
Orange Cap numbers tell a story, but batting patterns matter
Given his role as India’s foremost T20 opener, it is a surprise to see Samson placed so far down the Orange Cap standings. He sits 12th with 192 runs across six matches, maintaining an average of 38.40 and a strike rate of 174.54. He has hit the most fours in the season with 15, yet his power output in terms of sixes—only four—has him down the list as well, with his six-hitting ranking 30th.
Shifting to a more situational, anchor-style approach
At Rajasthan Royals, Samson was known for his free-flowing style. In CSK, his approach has shifted, but the adaptation is not yet producing consistent returns. He appears to be searching for a more situational way of batting, which has resulted in hesitation early in his innings. That early uncertainty has been linked to early dismissals, and bowlers have been able to plan accordingly.
His T20 World Cup form had encouraged the anchor role, and he has been trying to replicate that framework in IPL 2026. However, opposition teams and the bowling units facing him have been well prepared for how he wants to play. There is also a technical tweak in the way he is trying to operate—leaning toward anchoring instead of relying on the quicker, free-flowing rhythm he used to maintain.
The change has been influenced by the conditions as well, with Samson attempting to adjust to the slower surfaces at Chepauk. Still, the biggest challenge in an anchor-focused plan is the need for a clearer shot-selection strategy, which in turn demands sharper timing. His timing has not been reliable this season, with the unbeaten 115* versus Delhi Capitals standing out as the exception.
Next test for CSK: bounce back against Mumbai Indians
CSK will face Mumbai Indians in their next fixture on Thursday and will be looking to return to winning ways. With attention likely to fall on Samson once again, CSK will also need to settle on the right opening combination—either with Mhatre or with Ruturaj Gaikwad—to create a steadier start at the top of the order.
