Sanju Samson fails on CSK debut, ends stellar IPL opener streak vs RR
Chennai Super Kings opener Sanju Samson failed on his CSK debut after Nandre Burger castled him for six in the IPL 2026 clash against Rajasthan Royals at Guwahati's Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Sanju Samson's much-anticipated debut for Chennai Super Kings ended in disappointment as the wicketkeeper-batter fell for just six runs against his former franchise Rajasthan Royals in their IPL 2026 opener at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Monday.
Known for his strong starts to IPL seasons, Samson saw a remarkable streak come to an end. For the first time since 2020, he failed to score a fifty in his opening match of a campaign. His early dismissal triggered a collapse at the top. Chennai were reduced to 19 for 2 inside three overs, with both Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad back in the pavilion. It was the kind of start that mirrored their struggles from last season.
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Gaikwad, who made 6 off 10 balls, tried to break the shackles by backing away to create room. Jofra Archer responded with pace, sending down a 143.3 kmph delivery that beat the bat and crashed into the middle stump, leaving CSK at 19 for 3.
The slide continued in the same way. Nandre Burger banged one in short, hurrying Mhatre into a mistake. The ball brushed his gloves on the way to the wicketkeeper, consigning him to a golden duck. Rajasthan Royals seized control of the powerplay, with Burger and Archer setting the tone.
Chennai brought in Sarfaraz Khan as an impact substitute in an attempt to steady the innings.
Samson's dismissal, however, remained central to the early damage. His record in IPL openers since 2020 highlights how unusual this failure was:
74 (32) vs CSK, 2020
119 (63) vs PBKS, 2021
55 (27) vs SRH, 2022
55 (32) vs SRH, 2023
82* (52) vs LSG, 2024
66 (37) vs SRH, 2025
6 (7) vs RR, 2026
Opening the innings, Samson was put under pressure immediately by Archer. The first ball jagged back and took the inside edge. Archer then beat him outside off before inducing another edge that flew past short third for four. Despite the boundary, Samson struggled to find fluency and scored just six runs in the opening over.
In the next over, Burger provided the breakthrough. Bowling at over 140 kmph, he got one to deck away as Samson attempted a leg-side flick. The ball went past the bat and crashed into the off stump, ending his innings at 6 off 7 balls.
The early wicket also turned attention to the trade that brought Samson from Rajasthan to Chennai ahead of the season. Rajasthan struck first in this contest, but the larger assessment will play out over the course of the tournament.
Samson is expected to take over wicketkeeping duties in the absence of MS Dhoni, who has been ruled out for two weeks with a calf strain. Chennai will look to him to settle quickly and provide stability at the top as the season progresses.
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