Chennai Super Kings found their rhythm even without MS Dhoni around. As the Kotla pitch eased up through the evening, Sanju Samson stepped in with a performance worth remembering. Not chasing records, just focusing on the game, he held things together when pressure could have built. The crowd saw his class unfold – steady hands, sharp decisions, clean strokes. What stood out wasn’t flashiness but how he stayed grounded amid rising demands. Praise poured in from two legendary Indian batsmen who noticed the quiet strength behind his play. This innings reminded everyone why his name comes up often in conversations about explosive limited-overs hitters. With 6 fours and 4 sixes, his 87 from 52 felt effortless, almost unhurried despite tight moments. Delhi Capitals’ bowlers had few answers once he settled into stride. By the time the winning runs came, it was clear: control had never slipped away.
On a slow track that made clean hitting tough, Chennai needed 155 but slipped early to 45 for two. Instead of rushing, Samson stayed steady – 22 runs came from his first 22 balls without flash or flair. Then, quietly, he changed pace, reaching fifty in the twelfth over by targeting Delhi’s spinners with sharp intent and well-placed strikes.
A strong finish from him found support in Kartik Sharma, their joint push building 114 unbroken runs in only 66 deliveries – that flow of scoring slowly draining any hope from the opposition.
What stood out even more post his player of the match winning performance was Samson’s mindset. Speaking to Harsha Bhogle, he said, “A hundred is always special. But for that, I would have had to be a bit selfish. I didn’t say, ‘Take a single, let me get my hundred.’ I thought it was better to win the match for the team.”
That sentiment drew high praise from Sunil Gavaskar, who highlighted Samson’s maturity. “Patience brings great rewards. He got set and then accelerated. Had Kartik not finished it off with those shots, Samson might have had his century. But he played for the team,” Gavaskar noted.
Virender Sehwag echoed similar thoughts, pointing to Samson’s evolved game awareness. “He was playing percentage cricket, only attacking balls in his zone. Over the last few years, his understanding of the game has improved massively,” Sehwag said.
One man alone has reached triple figures twice so far, adding a fifty to his name too. Sitting fifth among run scorers, Sanju’s total stands at 402. Should Chennai make it into the playoffs, more weight will rest on his knocks. Only he has managed such scores this term.
Midnight blues painted the sky above Kotla, yet Tuesday evening lit up under his presence. Not just his – it was claimed by every cheering soul wearing CSK colors in packed stands. With Dhoni missing, fans found joy watching Samson carve another masterful innings. Leaving through gates, voices rose asking where one might find a yellow top stitched with Samson’s name.
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