Kamal Ghorui
After three low scores, Sanju Samson returned to form with a hundred as Chennai Super Kings beat Delhi Capitals by 23 runs to record their first win of IPL 2026 in Chennai on Saturday.After the innings, Samson thanked commentator and former India coach Ravi Shastri during a mid-innings interview. “Feels great thanks to you (Ravi Shastri). I think you seem to be my lucky person to meet before every game, so please come before every game, sir. To be very honest, I think that, whatever many forms you are in, the matches you have won for your country, a couple of failures definitely put a lot of doubts in your mind,” the CSK batter said.It was Samson’s fourth IPL hundred, his first for CSK and the first in IPL 2026. He reached the milestone in 52 balls. He also went past MS Dhoni’s record for the highest score by a designated CSK wicketkeeper in the IPL, which was 84 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2019.Samson also became the second batter to score a century for three IPL teams. He has hundreds for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Rajasthan Royals and CSK. KL Rahul was the first to do so, for Punjab Kings, Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals.Samson (115 not out off 56 balls) and Mhatre (59 off 36 balls) added 113 runs for the second wicket to take CSK to 212 for two. Delhi Capitals were bowled out for 189, with Jamie Overton taking 4/18.Tristan Stubbs scored 60 to keep Delhi Capitals in the chase.This was Chennai Super Kings’ first win of the season, while Delhi Capitals suffered their second loss in a row.
