Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener Sanju Samson played a match-winning knock but missed out on his third century of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 during the run chase against Delhi Capitals on May 6. Samson was batting on 84 when CSK needed 18 more runs to win from eight overs. The Kartik Sharma finished off the game in next seven balls he faced and Samson remained not out for 87. While Samson likes to get hundreds, he did not want to do the selfish thing to ask young Kartik for a single. He was satisfied with getting two points for the team.
“Yeah, it was, but I was like I had to be a bit too selfish to get that. So I thought let's win the game and the other partner was batting really well. So I didn't want to tell him, 'ek single dey de yaar, mai sau bana tha hoon' [take a single, I will get my 100]. So I didn't say that. So I think really enjoyed, I think coming not out, finishing off the game gives you a better satisfaction. So I just enjoyed it and few more games to go. Let's see if I get those three figures once again,” Samson said in the post-match presentation when asked about whether he wanted to score a century.
Samson's acceleration and match-winning stand
Samson hit six sixes and seven fours in his unbeaten 52-ball 87. He anchored the run chase and then targeted Kuldeep Yadav, hitting him for two sixes and a four. From 33 off 28 deliveries, he reached his 50 from four more balls. He got boundaries off Mitchell Starc and then ensured there is no anti-climax with two sixes and a four off T Natarajan's second over.
Samson shared an unbeaten 114-run partnership for the third wicket with Kartik. The youngster scored 41 runs from 31 balls, including four fours and a couple of sixes.
Samson’s best IPL season? Opener in hunt for orange cap
Samson also finds himself in the race for orange cap once again. From 10 innings, he has 402 runs at an average of 57.42 and strike rate of 167.50. He is the fifth-highest run-scorer currently. This is the fifth time in his IPL career which started in 2013 that he has crossed the 400-run mark in a season. His best tally came in IPL 2024 where he scored 531 runs from 15 innings for Rajasthan Royals.