Celebrations echoed around M. A. Chidambaram Stadium and across Chennai as the wait finally ended.
After six straight defeats at home, Chennai Super Kings finally delivered a performance worthy of their fortress, beating Delhi Capitals by 23 runs to register their first win of Indian Premier League 2026.
At the heart of it all was Sanju Samson. After a quiet start to the season, Samson rediscovered his rhythm in emphatic fashion, smashing an unbeaten 115 off 56 balls. Opening the innings, he combined elegance with authority, registering his first century for CSK and the fourth of his IPL career to power the hosts to 212 for 2.
Samson sets the tone
Samson wasted no time imposing himself. Taking charge in the PowerPlay, he scored 45 of CSK’s 61 runs in the first six overs, setting the tempo early. Crisp drives, clean lofted shots and decisive footwork underlined his return to form. His fifty came off just 26 balls, and by the time he reached his century in 52 deliveries, the Chepauk crowd was in full voice.
A moment of reprieve came when he was dropped on 55 by Pathum Nissanka off Axar Patel, but Samson made it count. He carried his bat through the innings, never losing momentum, producing one of CSK’s most complete batting efforts this season.
At the other end, Ayush Mhatre impressed with a composed 59 off 36 balls. The duo stitched together a 113-run partnership that laid the foundation for the big total. Shivam Dube provided the finishing push with a late cameo, while Ruturaj Gaikwad contributed in the opening stand despite not accelerating.
Capitals falter in chase
Chasing 213, Delhi started brightly. KL Rahul and Nissanka raced to 61 in just five overs, briefly putting CSK under pressure. But the turning point came soon after when Nissanka fell trying to force the pace.
From there, CSK’s bowlers took control. Jamie Overton led the charge with a superb spell, finishing with 4 for 18. His disciplined hard lengths on the Chepauk surface proved decisive, as he dismissed key batters including David Miller and Tristan Stubbs.
Support came from Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj and debutant Gurjapneet Singh, who maintained relentless pressure through the middle overs. Sharp fielding further tightened the screws, cutting off easy runs and forcing errors.
Stubbs fought hard with a 60 off 38 balls, but lacked support at the other end as Delhi’s chase unraveled. The asking rate climbed steadily, wickets kept falling, and the visitors were eventually bowled out for 189, slipping to their second successive defeat.
Complete performance brings relief
For CSK, this was a much-needed all-round display. The batting showed intent, the bowlers executed their plans with precision, and the fielding matched the energy. More importantly, it restored belief after a difficult start to the season.
And fittingly, the night belonged to Samson. Under scrutiny after a lean run, he responded in style—his unbeaten 115 not just anchoring the innings, but reigniting CSK’s campaign and lifting the mood at Chepauk.
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