Playing at the famous MA Chidambaram Stadium, Samson played an innings that not only revived their campaign but also electrified the home crowd. His unbeaten inning of 115 off 56 balls led CSK to a strong total of 212 runs, which was the first century of the IPL 2026 season.
To make the moment even more memorable, Samson celebrated his milestone with the famous Padayappa-style salute, which was a tribute to veteran actor Rajinikanth, and it won the hearts of fans both at the stadium and online.
Early aggression sets the tone for Sanju Samson’s special innings
Samson lost no time in making his intentions clear. Opening with confidence, he Auqib Nabi Hit a four in the first over bowled by and followed it up with more excellent shots to take the scoreboard forward.
While CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad Struggling to find rhythm at the other end, Samson took charge of the innings.
His effortless stroke play took CSK to 61 runs in the powerplay, giving the team a strong start.Despite Gaikwad’s dismissal soon after the powerplay, Samson showed maturity by adjusting his approach. They Ayush Mhatre Formed a vital partnership with, balancing aggression with smart shot selection to steady the innings.
From lucky break to total dominance
Samson completed his half-century in just 26 balls, showing his dominance over the DC bowling attack. However, he also got a little luck when pathum nisanka Dropped him to deep mid-wicket on 52.
This moment proved costly for Delhi Capitals. After this, Samson changed gears effortlessly, showcasing his full stroke range. Kuldeep Yadav A lofted six over deep extra cover against India was one of the highlights of his innings.
When Mhatre also contributed well and completed his fifty, CSK reached 130/1 in 13 overs. The pair kept the pressure on the opposition, ensuring that there was no respite for the bowlers.
Celebrating a century and a perfect finish
As he approached the three-point mark, Samson showed no signs of slowing down.
He attacked T Natarajan with confidence, hitting a six and a four to get close to ninety.The century came in spectacular style—with a four that brought the Chepauk crowd to its feet. What followed was a moment of pure drama when Samson did the iconic Rajinikanth-style salute, drawing applause from all around the ground. He played an unbeaten inning of 115 runs, which included 14 fours and three sixes, ensuring that CSK finished with a strong score of 212.
