Sanju Samson didn’t just bat at Wankhede on Thursday night—he briefly changed the atmosphere. The Chennai crowd found its roar again as the CSK batter, wearing a new yellow jersey, smashed his first IPL century and turned the ground into a stage for celebration, even though he was far from his home turf by over 1,000 kilometers.
Wankhede’s setting and the CSK crowd effect
Although the match was played at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, where Samson’s CSK were set to face their arch-rivals, the chants telling “CSK, CSK” grew louder once he started timing the ball. The yellow-clad supporters at the venue kept feeding off the momentum, and the sea of blue in the stands received a real test as Samson’s boundaries came in quick succession.
The surface carried a familiar clue from earlier in the season: the same venue had witnessed Mumbai Indians (MI) post a 224 total against KKR, matching 220 in the contest. Still, this night proved more demanding for Samson than his unbeaten 115 against Delhi Capitals in Chennai, where he finished with 11.5 overs’ worth of control and authority.
How MI set the tone and why Samson had to adapt
MI arrived with confidence after their recent win and looked prepared for CSK’s early blows. When CSK struck with boundaries at the start, MI responded in kind. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube had both been struggling against spin during this IPL, and MI’s early pivot to AM Ghazanfar paid dividends, as it accounted for both batters.
Sarfaraz Khan also found himself in a battle with Mitchell Santner. Santner kept shifting pace and was able to get through Sarfaraz’s sweep attempts with variation that disrupted timing.
Samson’s innings, meanwhile, offered a blend of finesse and force. He entertained the same crowd that had watched him devastate England in the T20 World Cup semi-final last month with an 89. At Wankhede, his soft touches guided the ball to the boundary, and his late contact—coming off a rocking stance with forward reach well beyond the crease—made it difficult for the fast bowlers to execute their usual plans.
Milestones, turning points, and Samson’s finishing mindset
By the time Samson reached his fifty off 26 balls, CSK were scoring at better than 11 runs per over and were only three wickets down. That position suggested CSK could push toward a total well beyond 200, particularly if they attacked more aggressively in the final phase.
However, the momentum shifted soon after. Dewald Brevis fell just three deliveries after Samson got to his half-century, giving MI an extra hurdle. CSK were already the second-worst side in the tournament for striking in the death overs (17 to 20), and their end-game finishing hadn’t quite clicked up to this point. This time, MI also benefited from an unexpected batting setup: CSK inserted Jamie Overton at number 7, forcing Samson to reconsider the level of risk he could afford.
- Samson’s fifty came at 26 balls, with CSK at over 11 an over and only three down.
- After Brevis fell three balls later, MI created a new speed bump in CSK’s plan.
- CSK’s death-overs record heading into the match was poor (17 to 20 overs: 17–20 range, second-worst in IPL).
- CSK inexplicably used Jamie Overton at No. 7, changing the batting equation for Samson.
After the game, Samson explained how the wicket and the situation shaped his approach. He said that right after the powerplay he sensed the nature of the pitch, and that wickets kept falling whenever CSK looked to go big. That made him believe a settled batter needed to stay at the crease until the end, which is what he set out to do.
He added that the game itself tells you what to do, urging players not to carry a fixed, premeditated mindset. Instead, he described prioritising team demands, using experience and responsibility to read the match, and then planning his batting around the situation. He also noted that if CSK hadn’t lost a lot of wickets, he would likely have attacked harder earlier, but after those dismissals it became crucial to close the innings strongly.
From 44 off 20 balls, Samson’s next stretch for 16 deliveries carried a rate just above a run per ball. Even when the strike-rate dipped, his focus didn’t waver—his head tilting down beneath the helmet while he kept a direct line of sight made the intent clear. On this phase, the bowler was Krish Bhagat, MI’s least experienced option, who was tasked with the 16th over.
- Samson moved from 44 off 20 to a period where his scoring rate was just over a run a ball for the next 16 deliveries.
- Bhagat was given the 16th over during this phase.
- Samson struck a slower ball over long-on for a boundary that sparked loud reactions from the yellow end.
- He then sliced the next delivery for four off a yorker, with more yellow flags going up.
- Another boundary followed on the next ball, taking the momentum further as CSK supporters landed in the seats for celebration.
Jasprit Bumrah still had two overs remaining, and while CSK may not have been thrilled to see only 12 runs come from that stage, it ensured Samson stayed on strike for the final over with a score of 85 against Bhagat. The question then became how deep Samson would need to bat—something he answered by highlighting his responsibility to interpret the game and execute what the team required, rather than forcing a pre-set script.
The defining burst arrived when Samson smashed a six off the opening ball of the 20th over to push into the 90s. Even MI supporters started applauding as the boundaries began to look unstoppable. When he launched another six well over the covers, the century appeared inevitable. The final moment came when he struck the last ball just beyond the rope at square leg, prompting a standing ovation from more than 28,500 people.
Samson then removed his helmet, turning with a coy smile for a full 360-degree moment to absorb cheers from every corner of the ground.
Reactions, celebrations, and the Dhoni connection
Speaking afterward, Samson said it felt special to hit a century at Wankhede against MI, praising the moment as something memorable for both him and the team. He also remarked that he had never seen so much yellow at Wankhede in his life, expressing gratitude to represent the franchise.
Bumrah came in to hug Samson, while Hardik Pandya landed a high-five with a laugh. Other MI players continued to congratulate him as the celebrations spread across both dugouts.
Many of the supporters in yellow had originally come for MS Dhoni, but Samson’s measured innings showed them another kind of self-effacing hitter in CSK colours—one they are likely to enjoy for years to come.
