Sanju Samson hasn’t had a great start with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), if you look at the numbers, but Irfan Pathan feels the team’s long-term plans for him are still very clear. Samson, who moved from Rajasthan Royals to CSK before IPL 2026 for ₹18 crore, has scored just 13 runs in his first two matches for the five-time champions.
CSK have also lost both their opening games, which has put more focus on their next match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday. Since Bengaluru is known for being a good batting pitch, this match could be an important early test for both Samson and the team.
Speaking before the big game, Pathan said Samson wasn’t brought in just as another top-order batter, but as someone who could play a bigger role in the future, especially after MS Dhoni.
“Look, as far as the future is concerned, Chennai have brought in Sanju Samson as a potential face of the team after MS Dhoni. He hasn’t scored runs in the first two matches, even on a pitch where batting has improved,” Pathan said.
The size of the move shows how much CSK believe in him. Samson was one of the biggest transfers before the season, and joining CSK means stepping into a role that comes with a lot of attention. He is not only batting but also keeping wickets for a team that is still strongly linked with Dhoni. With CSK not off to a good start, every innings from Samson is being closely watched.
ALSO READ: Bhuvneshwar Kumar on verge of reaching new milestone during RCB vs CSK clash
Irfan Pathan's prediction on Samson's performance
Pathan also shared his gut feeling about the next match, saying he expects Samson to do well in Bengaluru.
“The next match is in Bengaluru, and I expect Sanju Samson to score runs there. If that happens, then Chennai’s thinking of making him the face of the team after MS Dhoni could start taking shape,” Pathan said. “I have a gut feeling that Sanju will score in this match,” he added.
So far, Samson has scored 6 and 7, which are not big numbers. But one good innings, especially in a big match, can quickly change things. The Bengaluru game gives him a fresh chance to settle in and make an impact.
ALSO READ: How a 9th wkt stand in red-ball game 13 yrs ago led to Krunal bowling bouncers
Irfan Pathan on Virat Kohli
Pathan also spoke about Virat Kohli, who has already looked in great form this season. In RCB’s first match of IPL 2026, Kohli scored an unbeaten 69 off 38 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad, with a strike rate of 181.58, hitting five fours and five sixes.
“And then there is Virat Kohli. The way he scored runs in the first match at a strike rate of 182, he doesn’t look like a 37-year-old at all. He is extremely agile in the field, and with his running between the wickets, you might get tired, but he will not,” Pathan said.