MUMBAI: Since the T20 World Cup, Sanju Samson’s batting approach has shown a noticeable change—greater calm, and sharper awareness of the game situation. A year earlier, his mindset often leaned toward trying to clear the boundary whenever pressure built, instead of waiting patiently for the right phase. That more impulsive rhythm eventually played a role in him missing out on a place in India’s XI.
When Samson received another chance during the World Cup, he made sure it counted. He struck three straight half-centuries and delivered performances that proved pivotal in India defending their title. That momentum has carried over into the IPL, where he is quickly winning admiration from Chennai Super Kings supporters, who have long been accustomed to valuing MS Dhoni’s steadiness.
Chennai fans had been waiting eagerly for Samson’s “magic” ever since the announcement of his move from Rajasthan Royals. Yet the start of his CSK stint was far from smooth, with him registering three single-digit scores to open his run.
Then came the knock everyone was hoping to see. Samson produced an unbeaten 115 off 56 balls against the Delhi Capitals on home soil, a 100-plus effort that underlined why his switch to Chennai drew so much excitement.
Although the distance between MA Chidambaram Stadium and Wankhede Stadium is roughly 1,300 km, the atmosphere felt just as electric. In Mumbai, CSK supporters turned up in large numbers to cheer Samson along, and after the match the 31-year-old remarked that he had “never seen so much yellow at the Wankhede in my life”.
Beyond the celebrations, Samson’s second century in just four innings—an unbeaten 101 from 54 deliveries—was decisive in setting up a challenging chase. CSK posted a target of 208 for Mumbai Indians, and while Samson anchored one end, the Mumbai batting side chipped away at the total from the other. He began with intent, finding boundaries at a strike rate above 200, but as wickets continued to tumble around him, Samson adjusted his approach—choosing to hold the innings together and choose his scoring moments more deliberately.
His century also carried a special first: it was the maiden hundred by a CSK batter against Mumbai Indians. Samson’s latest big score further moved him level with Rohit Sharma for second place among Indian players with the most T20 centuries, with eight hundreds to his name.
Samson also explained his thinking after the innings. “The game tells you what to do. You don’t have to come with a preconceived mindset,” he said. “With my experience, the team definitely comes first. It’s my responsibility to understand the situation, what the team demands and then plan my game around it. If we hadn’t lost a lot of wickets, I’d have gone a bit harder earlier. But after the fall of wickets, it was very important for us to close off the innings well,” he added.
