Samson’s 52‑ball century

Sanju Samson gave Chennai Super Kings their first win of Indian Premier League 2026 with an unbeaten 115 off 56 balls against Delhi Capitals on April 11 in Chennai. (espncricinfo.com) He reached his hundred in 52 deliveries after scoring 45 of Chennai’s 61 powerplay runs, then finished with 15 fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 205.35. (espncricinfo.com, espncricinfo.com) Ayush Mhatre made 59 off 36 before Chennai retired him out at 175 for 2 in the 18th over, and Shivam Dube added 20 off 10 as the home side posted 212 for 2. (espncricinfo.com) Delhi’s chase started fast at 61 for no loss in 4.6 overs through Pathum Nissanka’s 41 off 24 and Kl Rahul’s 18 off 10, but Chennai took three wickets in the next three overs and pulled the rate back. (espncricinfo.com, espncricinfo.com) Tristan Stubbs kept Delhi alive with 60 off 38, but Jamie Overton took 4 for 18 and Anshul Kamboj took 3 for 35 as Chennai won by 23 runs. (espncricinfo.com, espncricinfo.com) The innings ended a rough opening stretch for Samson in Chennai colors. NewsBytes reported that he had three successive failures before this match, and ESPNcricinfo called it his first century for Chennai Super Kings. (newsbytesapp.com, espncricinfo.com) It also snapped Chennai’s winless start to the season and gave them their first home win after six straight defeats at Chepauk dating back to the previous campaign. (espncricinfo.com) Samson’s hundred was the fourth of his Indian Premier League career, according to NewsBytes, but this one carried a different weight because Chennai had opened the season without points. (newsbytesapp.com, espncricinfo.com) On a night when Ruturaj Gaikwad managed 15 off 18, Samson supplied almost all of Chennai’s early momentum and stayed through all 20 overs. Chennai needed exactly that kind of innings to turn 212 into their first points of 2026. (espncricinfo.com, espncricinfo.com)