Chennai, April 12 (NationPress) Sanju Samson, the wicketkeeper batter for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), referred to his match-winning century against Delhi Capitals (DC) in the 18th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium as exceptionally special. He attributed this achievement to his desire to show gratitude for the trust placed in him by the franchise after their significant trade prior to the season.

"I’ve registered a few centuries in this format, but this particular one is quite special. Scoring it in Chepauk and in front of our home supporters… I didn’t begin well, but once I found my rhythm and felt at home, I didn’t want to leave the field without contributing significantly," Samson expressed in a video shared by IPL on X.

He acknowledged that a calm mindset, following a successful World Cup, influenced his performance positively.

“Honestly, I felt much more at ease. Coming off a strong World Cup certainly helps. There was no need to prove myself, but a strong desire to give back to the franchise,” he shared.

Furthermore, Samson emphasized the weight of responsibility he felt after the franchise made a pivotal decision to acquire him by parting ways with their star player, Ravindra Jadeja, along with Sam Curran.

“They have shown immense faith in me. They executed their most significant trade in IPL history. So, I felt, ‘Alright, Sanju, you must step up and ensure you win this game for them.’ That was the sentiment,” he added.

Samson also opened up about the difficulties he faced earlier in the tournament, where he managed only 22 runs across the first three matches, revealing that a series of failures led to self-doubt but ultimately helped him rediscover his form.

“To be candid, after three failures, doubt creeps in. I’ve encountered numerous setbacks in my career, so I knew how to bounce back. I just took my time to settle in, and after the power play, I knew it was time to accelerate,” Samson explained.

He made history by becoming the first player to hit centuries for three different IPL franchises, marking his first century for CSK after scoring two for Rajasthan Royals and one for Delhi Capitals (DC). Additionally, he stands out as the only player to score the season's first century four times, achieving this feat in 2017, 2018, 2021, and 2026.

In response to the record, Samson remarked, "There’s a secret behind it, but I won’t disclose it.”

Samson reached his century in just 52 balls and remained not out at 115 runs, leading CSK to a total of 212/2 in 20 overs. In pursuit of the hefty score, the Delhi Capitals were dismissed for a mere 189 runs in the same number of overs.