Chennai Super Kings have swung back into form in the IPL as their dependable top-order batter Sanju Samson has found his rhythm at exactly the right moment. Heading into their latest outing, Samson had already registered two hundreds and compiled 402 runs from 10 innings. In the match against Delhi Capitals, he struck an unbeaten 87 off 52 balls, a knock that underpinned an eight-wicket win for CSK and earned him Player of the Match honours. The innings also came with a landmark that placed Samson in a unique IPL record book: he became the first batter to be involved in two separate 200-plus partnerships against Delhi Capitals within the same season.
Key takeaways
- Sanju Samson entered the game in fine touch, having posted two centuries and 402 runs across 10 IPL innings this season.
- Against Delhi Capitals, Samson finished unbeaten on 87 from 52 balls as CSK chased down the target with ease.
- CSK beat Delhi by eight wickets, completing the chase in 17.3 overs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on May 5, 2026.
- Delhi slipped to 69/5 after a middle-order collapse, but Sameer Rizvi and Tristan Stubbs provided late resistance.
- Samson’s 87* included another major partnership milestone, making him the first player to feature in two century stands versus DC in the same IPL edition.
- CSK’s chase was sealed with 15 balls remaining, thanks in large part to an unbeaten 114-run partnership between Samson and Kartik Sharma.
CSK’s chase sets up playoff momentum
Chennai kept their postseason chances firmly in play with a convincing eight-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals at Arun Jaitley Stadium on May 5 in IPL 2026. After winning the toss and limiting Delhi on a sluggish surface, CSK were handed a target of 156 following DC’s total of 155/7.
Delhi’s batting never truly found traction for long stretches. Their innings was fractured by a middle-order collapse that left them reeling at 69/5. Even with the game opening up late, the Capitals couldn’t fully recover until the tail end of the chase began—Sameer Rizvi and Tristan Stubbs tried to push the innings forward, but the damage had already been done.
CSK’s bowling unit maintained control throughout, with Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad playing key roles in preventing Delhi from building any sustained momentum. Once the set-up was in place, the chase became a matter of execution rather than survival.
Samson’s unbeaten 87 and the 114-run stand
In reply, Sanju Samson delivered a steady, high-impact innings, remaining unbeaten on 87 off 52 balls. His approach ensured CSK kept moving forward without allowing any late wobble, and he anchored the chase with authority from the start.
Kartik Sharma provided strong support at the other end. Together, Samson and Sharma stitched an unbeaten century partnership worth 114 runs, which ultimately guided CSK to the finish line with 15 balls to spare. The result tightened the race at the bottom as well: Delhi moved closer to elimination, while CSK climbed back into playoff contention, sitting in 5th position following their strong late-season performance.
This was also Samson’s second 100-plus partnership of the season, and notably it came against the same opposition—Delhi Capitals—highlighting how effectively he has been able to convert opportunities versus DC.
How the century partnerships stack up vs Delhi
While it was CSK’s fifth 100-run partnership against Delhi Capitals overall, the standout detail this season was Samson’s record-making involvement: he became the first batter to take part in two century partnerships against Delhi Capitals within a single IPL campaign.
There is further context to the CSK-DC head-to-head narrative as well. Ruturaj Gaikwad leads the overall mark for featuring in the most 100-run stands against Delhi across different seasons. His tally includes three such century partnerships, recorded in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
100-run partnerships involving CSK batsmen vs Delhi Capitals
- Ruturaj Gaikwad & Devon Conway — 141 (1st wicket) — Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals — Delhi — 20-May-2023
- Sanju Samson & Kartik Sharma — 114* (3rd wicket) — Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals — Delhi — 5-May-2026
- Sanju Samson & Ayush Mhatre — 113 (2nd wicket) — Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals — Chennai — 11-Apr-2026
- Robin Uthappa & Ruturaj Gaikwad — 110 (2nd wicket) — Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals — Dubai International Cricket Stadium — 10-Oct-2021
- Ruturaj Gaikwad & Devon Conway — 110 (1st wicket) — Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals — DY Patil Stadium — 8-May-2022
