Mumbai: Sanju Samson etched his name in the record books with a sensational unbeaten 101, guiding Chennai Super Kings to a strong total against Mumbai Indians in their Indian Premier League clash at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.
The stylish right-hander’s innings not only powered CSK to 207/6 but also created multiple records, making it one of the most significant knocks in the history of this high-profile rivalry.
First CSK centurion against Mumbai Indians
Samson became the first-ever CSK batter to score a century against Mumbai Indians in IPL history. Despite the franchise boasting legends like MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Michael Hussey, none had previously achieved this feat against MI.
His unbeaten 101 off 54 balls included 10 fours and six sixes, showcasing a perfect blend of composure and aggression.
Joins elite CSK list
With this knock, Samson also became only the second CSK player after Shane Watson to score two centuries in a single IPL season for the franchise. The milestone highlights his consistency and impact in CSK colours this year.
Additionally, his 101* is now the highest individual score by a CSK batter against Mumbai Indians, surpassing previous records in this marquee fixture.
A rare ‘El Clasico’ milestone
The clash between CSK and MI is often dubbed the IPL’s ‘El Clasico’, given the fierce rivalry between the two most successful franchises.
Samson’s innings marked the first-ever century by a CSK player in this iconic fixture. Previously, the highest score for CSK against MI was Ruturaj Gaikwad’s unbeaten 88 in 2021.
On the other hand, Mumbai Indians have seen centuries in this rivalry from players like Sanath Jayasuriya and Rohit Sharma.
Anchoring the innings under pressure
Samson’s innings was even more remarkable given the circumstances. While wickets fell regularly at the other end, he held the innings together with maturity and precision.
CSK had a promising start with Ruturaj Gaikwad contributing 22 runs, but middle-order batters failed to convert their starts. Sarfaraz Khan (14) and Shivam Dube (5) could not make an impact, while Dewald Brevis added a quick 21 before falling.
Amid the collapse, Samson paced his innings perfectly—rotating strike, finding boundaries at crucial moments, and accelerating towards the end.
Key moments of the innings
Samson showed his class early, finding gaps with precision and punishing loose deliveries. He handled bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya with confidence, mixing elegant strokeplay with calculated aggression.
In the final over, he brought up his century in style by smashing a towering six and finishing with authority, underlining his dominance.
CSK post competitive total
Despite looking set for an even bigger score at one stage, CSK ended at 207/6 due to a slowdown in the middle overs. Bowlers like AM Ghazanfar and Mitchell Santner applied pressure with timely wickets.
However, Samson’s unbeaten knock ensured CSK had a formidable total on the board.
Tribute on the field
In an emotional moment, CSK players wore black armbands during the match as a tribute to Mukesh Choudhary’s mother, who recently passed away.
Conclusion
Sanju Samson’s historic century not only powered Chennai Super Kings to a strong total but also rewrote the record books in one of the IPL’s biggest rivalries. His ability to deliver under pressure and create milestones highlights his growing stature as one of the league’s premier batters.