Sanju Samson's unbeaten 115 fires Chennai Super Kings to first IPL 2026 win
Chennai Super Kings finally got off the mark in IPL 2026, thumping Delhi Capitals by 23 runs on the back of a Sanju Samson century at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday evening.
Samson silences the critics with maiden CSK hundred
Ruturaj Gaikwad fell for 15, caught at deep mid-wicket trying to clear a back-of-length delivery from Axar Patel, but Samson — already at the crease from ball one — barely broke stride. What followed was a batting clinic. The 31-year-old raced to his fifty off just 26 balls and brought up his century in 52 deliveries, his bat a blur of drives, pulls, and deft placements. He finished unbeaten on 115 off 56 balls with 15 fours and four sixes, his fourth IPL century and his first in Chennai Super Kings colours.
Ayush Mhatre gave CSK momentum with 59 off 36 balls, smacking three fours and four sixes in a blistering knock. He was retired out to make way for Shivam Dube, a tactical call that paid off as CSK posted 212 in their 20 overs, a total that always looked steep on a pitch offering something for the bowlers in the second innings.
Stubbs fights but Delhi fall short
Delhi Capitals needed a record chase under lights at Chepauk, and their innings never quite built the sustained pressure required. Tristan Stubbs produced a gutsy half-century, smashing 60 off 38 balls to keep the contest alive. But wickets fell at regular intervals around him, and Delhi were eventually bowled out for 189 in the final over.
The 23-run defeat leaves Delhi winless from their last two matches, while CSK can breathe a sigh of relief after three consecutive losses to start the tournament. Samson was named Player of the Match for his match-defining knock.
What this means for the table
CSK's first points of the campaign move them off the bottom, though they remain in the lower half of the standings with plenty of ground to make up. For Delhi, a target of 213 was never going to be straightforward at Chepauk, but their bowlers will know they let Samson settle when they had chances to peg him back early in his innings.
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