Chennai Super Kings’ wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson shone with a remarkable 101 off 54 deliveries, including 10 fours and six sixes, guiding his team to a total of 207/6 against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. In response, Mumbai Indians struggled, losing wickets at regular intervals and being bowled out for just 104 in 19 overs. Samson attributed his stellar performance to the high expectations and pressure to excel against their arch-rivals.
“It’s a very big occasion in IPL, everyone looks up to the CSK, my game, and I have been a part of this for the first time. So I could see the build-up, I could see the intensity coming on, so that’s when my best also comes out,” Samson expressed in a video released by IPL. He further added, “I like the challenges, I like when it’s tough, so I really enjoyed the game today, I think the wicket was not a normal Wankhede wicket, the ball was swinging around, Bumrah was bowling with a new ball, so it was a very competitive game to be honest, so I think I’m very happy that I contributed and we had a victory today.”
Chennai Super Kings displayed a dominant performance, with Samson’s century being the highlight. Dewald Brevis and Kartik Sharma also chipped in with valuable runs. On the bowling front, Akeal Hosein’s four-wicket haul and Noor Ahmad’s support restricted Mumbai Indians to a mere 104 runs. Samson emphasized the importance of every player’s contribution in securing the victory, highlighting the collective effort of the team.
Reflecting on his innings, Samson shared insights into his approach towards reaching the century mark and the strategic conversation with Akeal Hosein before the final over. “When you get closer to your 100, you definitely want to score a 100, but I have tried to keep the team first, I think I got to a very good start, normally after having set in the wicket, I think I would like to go a bit harder, but the wicket kept on falling, so that’s why I wanted to build the partnership and stay till the end,” he explained. Samson’s partnership with Hosein in the final over led to a successful chase and his second century of the season, a feat that he described as “very special.”
