Sanju Samson continues to scale new heights in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, reaching a major career milestone while representing Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The stylish right-handed opener has become the 10th batter overall to score 5000 runs in IPL history and the eighth Indian to achieve the landmark, further cementing his place among the league’s elite performers.
Samson’s consistency and aggressive stroke play have been standout features this season. He also became the fastest Indian to reach the 5000-run mark in terms of balls faced, achieving the feat in just 3555 deliveries. Only AB de Villiers and David Warner have reached the milestone quicker, underlining the magnitude of Samson’s achievement.
The 2026 season has been particularly impressive for Samson, who has already smashed two centuries. In eight matches so far, he has accumulated 304 runs at an outstanding average of 50.67 and a blistering strike rate of 169.83. His contributions have often come in crucial situations, showcasing both his maturity and match-winning ability. Samson was traded before the mini-auction for INR 18 crore from Rajasthan Royals (RR) by giving away Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.
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CSK had a difficult start to their campaign, suffering defeats against RR, Punjab Kings (PBKS), and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). However, they bounced back strongly, thanks largely to Samson’s heroics. His unbeaten 115 against Delhi Capitals (DC) played a pivotal role in reviving their campaign.
He followed it up with another match-winning knock of 101* against Mumbai Indians, anchoring the innings while wickets fell at the other end. His calm approach under pressure ensured CSK secured their third win of the season. Earlier for India he won the Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup 2026 by scoring three fifties in crucial matches to guide Indian team to the third trophy.
As CSK continue their campaign, they face Gujarat Titans (GT) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Meanwhile, GT find themselves seventh on the table with three wins and four losses, and will be eager to improve their standing as the tournament progresses.
