Sanju Samson took a big step back toward his best form as Chennai Super Kings secured their first victory of IPL 2026, defeating Delhi Capitals by 23 runs in Chennai on Saturday. After a run of three modest scores, Samson delivered the kind of innings that steadies an entire chase—hammering 115 not out off 56 balls—while Ayush Mhatre provided the finishing touch to the platform with a brisk 59 off 36 deliveries.
The pair combined for a commanding 113-run stand for the second wicket, lifting CSK to 212 for two. From there, Chennai’s total looked solid, and their bowlers ensured Delhi never fully got on top of the chase, especially when Jamie Overton struck with the kind of control that changes the tempo of a T20 innings. Overton returned figures of 4/18, restricting the Capitals and eventually bowling them out for 189.
Even so, Tristan Stubbs refused to let the match slip away quietly. He struck a fighting 60, offering resistance that stretched the contest for as long as possible, but it only delayed the inevitable as the rest of the batting lineup struggled to build momentum.
While CSK finally tasted a win in the tournament, Delhi suffered their second straight defeat. The match also featured a heated moment during the chase, sparked by Delhi players—including Nitish Rana—questioning an umpiring decision that denied Tristan Stubbs’s request to change his gloves. The issue arose in the 19th over when Stubbs asked to swap his gloves, appearing uncomfortable as sweat had made them feel slick. Rana then addressed the umpire, arguing that damp gloves could compromise both performance and safety.
Soon after the exchange, on the third delivery of that 19th over, Stubbs was dismissed trying to loft Jamie Overton over mid-off. Noor Ahmed held the catch, ending Stubbs’s innings. As he made his way back, Stubbs threw both his bat and gloves toward the dressing room in frustration, with the glove-change request having been turned down by the fourth umpire earlier in the sequence.
With the result, Chennai climbed to ninth place, having now collected one win from three matches. Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, stayed fourth with two victories but also two losses after the back-to-back setback.
