Sanju Samson delivered a historic performance for Chennai Super Kings against Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2026 clash at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, April 23, 2026, scoring an unbeaten century that powered his team to a formidable total. His innings of 100 not out off 59 balls, which included seven fours and six sixes, came at a crucial stage of the match and marked his fifth century in IPL history. This knock also made him the first batter in CSK history to score multiple centuries for the franchise.
The right-handed batsman reached his milestone in dramatic fashion, dispatching a Krish Bhagat delivery for a four off the final ball of the innings to complete his ton. Samson’s century came amid a flurry of big hits, as he accelerated in the death overs to take CSK to 207/6 in their 20 overs. His innings was the backbone of the total, coming at a strike rate of over 169, and included a blistering assault on Hardik Pandya, whom he targeted for multiple boundaries.
According to live commentary from the match, Samson had already crossed fifty earlier in the innings before falling just short of a hundred earlier, but he returned with renewed intensity in the final over. He struck Bhagat for a four to seal the century, triggering celebrations among the CSK dugout. The innings was built on a foundation of aggressive intent, with Samson rotating strike early before unleashing his power-hitting in the latter half.
This century marked Samson’s second of the IPL 2026 season and his second for Chennai Super Kings, having previously scored a ton for the franchise in an earlier match. It also brought his overall IPL century count to five, placing him among an elite group of batters to achieve the feat. His performance came at a time when CSK were seeking consistency at the top of the order, especially amid ongoing concerns about the form of Ruturaj Gaikwad and the continued absence of MS Dhoni due to injury.
MS Dhoni has not played a single match in IPL 2026, continuing his absence from the tournament due to a calf strain sustained prior to the season’s commencement. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter was seen engaging with stadium staff and ground personnel in the days leading up to the match, including playing with the robot dog “Champak” during a practice session at Wankhede Stadium. Despite his absence from the playing XI, Dhoni remained involved in team activities, spending time in the nets and engaging in throwdown sessions with speedy bowlers.
Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad confirmed before the toss that Dhoni would not be featuring in the match, stating that the team was focusing on putting up a strong performance regardless of the batting order. Mumbai Indians won the toss and elected to field first, a decision influenced by the pitch conditions at Wankhede, which appeared green but played well under lights. Hardik Pandya, leading Mumbai Indians, said the team wanted to “just have fun” and bring intensity to the game.
The match saw early breakthroughs for Chennai Super Kings, with Akeal Hosein striking twice in quick succession to dismiss Naman Dhir and Quinton de Kock, leaving Mumbai Indians reeling at 24/2. Mukesh Kumar later removed Travis Head to make it 34/3, but a resilient partnership between Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma stabilized the innings before Samson’s counterattack began.
Samson’s innings included multiple sixes over long-on and long-off, particularly against the spin of Ravindra Jadeja and the pace of Mukesh Kumar. He also punished Hardik Pandya with consecutive boundaries, shifting the momentum decisively in CSK’s favor. His ability to find the boundary repeatedly in the final five overs proved decisive, as CSK added 68 runs in the last five overs alone.
The century was widely acknowledged as one of the finest individual efforts in IPL 2026 so far, not only for its timing and execution but also for its significance in the context of Samson’s career with Chennai Super Kings. Having joined the franchise ahead of the 2024 season, Samson has now become a pivotal figure in their batting lineup, delivering under pressure in high-stakes encounters.
His performance also highlighted the depth of talent in the CSK squad, with contributions from Sarfaraz Khan and Dewald Brevis providing useful support at different stages. Brevis, in particular, played a cameo of 32 off 18 balls before falling to Akeal Hosein, while Sarfaraz Khan contributed a brisk 28 off 19 before being dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah.
On the bowling front, Chennai Super Kings’ spinners played a key role in restricting Mumbai Indians during the powerplay, with Maheesh Theekshana and Ravindra Jadeja maintaining tight lines. However, it was Samson’s batting that ultimately defined the match, setting up a target that proved too steep for Mumbai Indians to chase despite late resistance from Tilak Varma and Shahrukh Khan.
As of the latest update, Chennai Super Kings sit in a strong position in the IPL 2026 points table, with this victory boosting their net run rate and strengthening their playoff aspirations. The team’s next match is scheduled against Royal Challengers Bangalore on April 27, 2026, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
For fans following the IPL 2026 season, official updates, match highlights, and player statistics are available on the Indian Premier League’s official website and through authorized broadcasters. Fans are encouraged to share their thoughts on Samson’s historic innings and engage in discussions about the evolving dynamics of the tournament.