Sanju Samson’s impressive unbeaten 115 off 56 balls, the first century of the season, along with Ayush Mhatre’s 59 off 36 deliveries, powered Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to a formidable total of 212/2 in their 20 overs against Delhi Capitals at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Samson, who played a crucial role in India’s Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 win, showcased brilliant stroke-play with 15 fours and four sixes at a strike-rate of 205.36. He became the first wicketkeeper-batter to score a century for CSK and the second batter after KL Rahul to achieve this feat for three different IPL teams.
The partnership between Samson and Mhatre, who contributed with his second fifty of the season, was pivotal as they shared a 113-run stand. Despite skipper Axar Patel taking a wicket for Delhi Capitals, the rest of their bowlers had a tough outing, with subpar fielding adding to their woes. Mhatre, benefiting from a couple of missed chances, and Samson, who was dropped on 52, capitalized on these opportunities to set up a commanding total for CSK.
In the Power-play, Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad laid a strong foundation with 61 runs. While Samson displayed fluent batting, Gaikwad’s innings ended with a 15-ball 15 before falling to Axar Patel. Mhatre’s arrival further boosted CSK’s scoring rate, with both batsmen clearing the boundaries regularly and taking advantage of DC’s fielding lapses. Mhatre, after a brief slowdown, was retired out in the 18th over, paving the way for Shivam Dube to contribute to the team’s total.
Samson’s century, marked by a flick off T. Natarajan, was celebrated with a Padayappa-style salute, delighting the Chepauk crowd. Dube’s quickfire 20 off 10 balls in the final overs ensured CSK finished strongly, setting a challenging target for Delhi Capitals to chase.
