‘Best version we’ve seen in years’: Experts unite in praise of Sanju Samson after match-winning knock

A dominant unbeaten 87 from Sanju Samson powered Chennai Super Kings to a convincing win over Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League 2026, drawing widespread praise from former cricketers and experts for his composure and match awareness.

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes Samson is currently at the peak of his powers.

Advertisement

“Sanju Samson is batting at his peak right now, and what stands out is his game awareness. He’s very clear about which bowlers to target and which ones to respect. You could see that he was cautious against someone like Lungi Ngidi, but the moment a less threatening option came on, he shifted gears and capitalised. That understanding of match-ups is outstanding,” Pathan said.

A dominant unbeaten 87 from Sanju Samson in the #IPL2026 not only powered the #ChennaiSuperKings to a convincing win over the Delhi Capitals but also drew widespread praise from former cricketers and experts, who hailed the wicketkeeper-batsman’s maturity, consistency, and… pic.twitter.com/UHEEYk5QWa

— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) May 6, 2026

From within the CSK camp, batting coach Michael Hussey highlighted Samson’s role in guiding youngster Kartik Sharma during the chase.

“I think it’s really important for someone like Sanju with all his experience to be out there in the middle with a young player like Kartik… just to keep him calm and talk him through the situation,” Hussey said.

Former England captain Eoin Morgan also praised Samson’s leadership, saying he “marshalled the run chase like a seasoned player” while mentoring his partner at the other end.

Meanwhile, former Australia skipper Aaron Finch termed Samson the “superstar” CSK had been waiting for, pointing to the difficulty of maintaining consistency in a T20 season.

Former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta echoed the sentiment, noting that this is the most consistent version of Samson seen in years, especially following his performances since the T20 World Cup.

Samson’s innings, which anchored the chase of 156, also featured a crucial unbeaten 114-run partnership with Kartik Sharma, underlining his dual role as both a finisher and a stabilising presence in the middle.

With over 400 runs this season, Samson has emerged as a key figure in CSK’s push towards the playoffs, delivering the kind of consistency and match-winning impact the franchise had been searching for.