7 balls. That’s all Sanju Samson managed to stay in the middle for on his Chennai Super Kings (CSK) debut. Commencing his third innings of his Indian Premier League (IPL) career, it all ended in 10 minutes for Samson at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.
Up against his old team, the Rajasthan Royals (RR), Samson would’ve been motivated. Facing familiar woes, Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger, with the new ball, he should’ve ideally handled the quicks. But the lively conditions made Samson’s life hell.
He faced the first ball of the innings and started scratchily. He went for the drive and inside-edged the ball towards silly mid-on. He tried that same shot again against Archer, but this time missed it completely. On the next ball, he edged one past the Dhruv Jurel.
Burger eats Sanju Samson up
Riyan Parag didn’t have a first slip in place. Otherwise, it would’ve gone to the man. Perhaps it was the luck Samson needed. At least, that’s what most thought. Burger took the ball next. On the first ball of the second over, Samson tapped a good-length ball outside off to point and got off strike.
On the last ball of that over, he returned on strike. Burger pitched the ball just outside the leg; it seam away from Samson and hit the off-stump. Samson was going for the flick towards forward square leg but missed it entirely. In fairness, the wicketkeeper couldn’t have done much.
Burger dismissing Samson for just 6 also broke the trend of the batter scoring at least a half-century in the opening matches of the IPL season in this decade. 55 was Samson’s lowest score in the tournament openers in the past 6 seasons. It clearly isn’t the start Samson would’ve liked to kick off his CSK career, but things can only get better from here.
Sanju Samson in opening IPL matches (2020s)
- 2020 – 74 (32)
- 2021 – 119 (63)
- 2022 – 55 (27)
- 2023 – 55 (32)
- 2024 – 82* (52)
- 2025 – 66 (37)
- 2026 – 6 (7)
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