Sanju Samson's Century Leads CSK to Historic Victory Over MI in IPL 2026
Samson Shines in CSK's Commanding Win
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 24: Sanju Samson, the opener for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), expressed his joy after achieving a match-winning century against the Mumbai Indians (MI) at Wankhede Stadium. He described this achievement as a significant milestone in his career following his Player of the Match performance during IPL 2026 on Thursday night.
After CSK's impressive 103-run victory over MI in this much-anticipated El Clasico, Samson shared that he concentrated on assessing the playing conditions rather than planning his innings in advance. He noted that the ball swung early on, making batting challenging post-powerplay.
“It feels amazing to score a century at Wankhede against MI. I focused on the conditions; the ball was swinging and holding a bit. After the powerplay, we lost wickets frequently. I believed it was crucial for a settled batsman to stay at the crease. The game guides you on what to do; there’s no need for premeditation. With my experience, the team’s success is my priority,” Samson remarked during the post-match presentation.
He also highlighted the significance of adaptability and accountability within a youthful squad, expressing pride in the team's response following a series of losses.
“I feel it’s my duty to grasp the game dynamics. Although it’s a young team, the attitude we’ve displayed after three defeats is commendable. Every match counts; we must be prepared and enjoy the game,” he added.
Reflecting on the atmosphere at Wankhede Stadium, Samson called it a unique experience playing for CSK, noting, “It’s all new for me, seeing so much yellow in Wankhede.”
CSK achieved a remarkable 103-run victory over MI, driven by Samson's outstanding century and a stellar bowling display led by Akeal Hosein.
CSK set a formidable target of 207/6, with Samson scoring a brilliant 101 off 54 balls. Their bowlers then dismantled MI's batting lineup, with Akeal Hosein taking four wickets for just 17 runs. Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Jamie Overton, Anshul Kamboj, and Gurjapneet Singh also contributed as MI was bowled out for 104.
This victory propelled CSK to fifth place in the IPL 2026 standings.
Notably, CSK's 103-run win over MI is now recorded as their largest victory margin in IPL history, surpassing their previous record of a 97-run win against Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in the 2015 season.
For MI, this defeat marks their most significant loss by runs in IPL history, eclipsing their previous worst margin of an 87-run defeat to the Rajasthan Royals in 2013. It also stands as their largest loss at Wankhede Stadium, surpassing a 39-run defeat to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2015.
The total of 104 all out is now MI's lowest score against CSK in IPL history, falling short of their previous low of 136/8 at Dubai in the 2021 season. Overall, CSK has triumphed in five of the last six encounters against MI since 2023.