Sanju Samson's Century Leads CSK to Victory Over Delhi Capitals
Samson Shines with Historic Century
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India] - April 12: After a remarkable century that secured a win for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), opener Sanju Samson opened up about overcoming setbacks and the confidence the franchise has placed in him. This trust inspired him to deliver an outstanding performance against Delhi Capitals (DC) at Chepauk on Saturday.
Samson made history by becoming the first player to score centuries for three different franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL), marking his first century for CSK after previously achieving two for Rajasthan Royals and one for Delhi Capitals. Prior to this innings, he had a challenging start to the season, following his T20 World Cup 'Player of the Tournament' accolade, with three scores in single digits. However, he repaid the franchise's faith with a stunning century, his seventh in T20 cricket.
During the post-match presentation, he expressed, “This means a lot to me. Honestly, the trust they placed in me felt like a responsibility to perform. I wanted to show that we are still in the tournament, and thankfully, everything went well. Starting off in a new franchise isn’t easy, but it felt like home.”
He continued, “The people here are incredibly kind and calm. Even after losing three consecutive matches, we only needed a brief meeting today, which reflects the franchise's supportive nature and resonates with my personality.”
Reflecting on his past struggles, Samson acknowledged that his failures have been instrumental in his growth, pushing him to adapt and refine his game strategy.
“At 31, I’ve invested a lot of time in this sport, and I need to focus on my fundamentals. It’s crucial to mentally prepare and physically execute the basics. As a batsman, it’s about seeing the ball well from the bowlers. We had productive sessions with our support staff, and I’m thrilled with how things turned out,” he stated.
Commenting on his partnership with U19 World Cup-winning captain Ayush Mhatre, Samson praised the young player's composure. “Building strong partnerships is vital in this format. Ayush displayed remarkable maturity, hitting the ball with clarity and strategy, showcasing his character,” he concluded.
In a heartfelt gesture, Samson dedicated his century to head coach Stephen Fleming, recognizing the support from the team management.
With this victory, CSK ended their six-match losing streak at home. After being put to bat first by DC, Samson scored an impressive 115* off 56 balls, including 15 fours and four sixes, while Ayush Mhatre contributed 59 off 36 balls. Together, they propelled CSK to a total of 212/2 in 20 overs. In response, DC's Pathum Nissanka scored 41 off 24 balls, and Tristan Stubbs made a commendable 60 off 30 balls, but it wasn’t enough as Overton (4/18) and Kamboj (3/35) consistently took wickets.
With this win, CSK climbed to ninth place with one victory and three losses, while DC remained in fourth with two wins and two losses.