Chennai Super Kings proved they can thrive even when MS Dhoni is not part of the lineup, with Sanju Samson once again leading from the front. On a pitch at Delhi’s Kotla that looked more workable as the contest went on, Samson played the kind of composed, match-aware innings that turns pressure into momentum. His unbeaten 87 off 52 balls powered CSK to their fifth win of the season, chasing 155 against Delhi Capitals and ensuring the chase never slipped out of reach.
Key takeaways
- Sanju Samson struck an unbeaten 87 off 52 balls as CSK chased 155 successfully.
- CSK were 45/2 early in the chase before Samson steadied the innings.
- Samson and Kartik Sharma put on an unbeaten 114-run stand in 66 balls to effectively seal the result.
- Samson’s half-century arrived in the 12th over, and he then handled the spinners with calculated intent.
- Sunil Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag both praised Samson’s maturity, patience, and improved game awareness.
- Despite Dhoni’s absence, CSK secured their fifth win of the campaign with Samson as the chief architect.
Samson’s calm chase and the turning points
Delhi Capitals set a target of 155 on a surface where clean hitting was always going to be difficult. CSK’s pursuit got off to a shaky start, landing them at 45/2, but Samson absorbed the early wobble without rushing his decisions. At one stage, he was simply building, moving to 22 off 22 balls before finding a higher gear.
Once the timing improved, Samson accelerated with intent. He brought up his fifty in the 12th over and began picking apart the Delhi spin attack, using placement and control to keep the required rate within reach. The key was that he never allowed the chase to become a scramble—every phase of his innings served a purpose, whether it was survival early or domination later.
The match-winning partnership
Samson’s impact was magnified by the support he received from Kartik Sharma. Together, they forged an unbeaten 114-run partnership off just 66 deliveries, a stand that changed the complexion of the game. By the time the duo completed that heavy-lifting phase, the contest had largely swung in CSK’s favour, with the finish becoming a formality.
Samson on mindset: team first
What drew even more attention after the player-of-the-match performance was Samson’s attitude. Speaking to Harsha Bhogle, he explained that while a hundred is always special, he prioritised the result. He suggested that he could have played for personal milestones, but chose instead to keep the team moving toward victory, stating that it was “better to win the match for the team.”
Sunil Gavaskar responded to that mindset by underlining Samson’s maturity. Gavaskar noted that patience was the foundation, with Samson getting set before accelerating. He also pointed to Kartik Sharma’s finishing role, adding that without Sharma taking the finishing touches, Samson may have gone on to reach the century—but stressed that Samson’s approach was firmly team-oriented.
Virender Sehwag added further context about Samson’s evolving awareness. Sehwag said Samson was operating with a clear understanding of “percentage cricket,” attacking only the deliveries in his scoring areas. He also credited improvements over recent seasons, arguing that Samson’s grasp of the game has developed significantly.
Form, rankings and the Kotla atmosphere
Samson’s numbers reinforced his status in the ongoing season. He is the only player to have struck two hundreds so far this campaign, alongside a half-century. With 402 runs, he sits fifth on the Orange Cap list. If CSK are to make the knockouts this season, further big contributions from him will be crucial, and Tuesday night at Kotla was a clear statement of intent.
The evening also belonged to the CSK supporters, who turned up in large numbers at the venue. With MS Dhoni absent, fans were eager for a performance that could carry the team forward—and they were treated to a classic from Samson. Even in the stands, there were questions about whether Samson would make it into a yellow jersey, as supporters checked out of the turnstiles after witnessing another defining innings.
