Sanju Samson has made a significant mark in the Indian Premier League by surpassing MS Dhoni’s record for the most runs scored by a designated wicketkeeper for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a single season. This milestone was achieved during a match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Samson Breaks Dhoni’s Record in IPL 2026
In the IPL 2026 match, Samson needed just 12 runs to eclipse Dhoni’s previous record of 461 runs, set during the 2013 season. He accomplished this feat quickly, scoring 15 runs off the first six balls of the innings, effectively surpassing Dhoni’s benchmark early in the game.
Key Performance Highlights
- Samson scored 15 runs in the opening over against Nitish Kumar Reddy.
- He later struck three consecutive boundaries in the second over bowled by Praful Hinge.
- At the time of his dismissal, he had scored 27 runs off just 11 balls.
Despite his aggressive start, Samson’s innings came to an end when he was caught behind off a delivery from SRH captain Pat Cummins. While Samson now holds the record for runs scored by a CSK wicketkeeper in a single season, Dhoni’s overall record as a wicketkeeper-batter remains unbroken.
Historical Context of the Record
Prior to Samson, Dhoni, Parthiv Patel (2008), and Samson himself were the only wicketkeepers to score over 100 runs for CSK in a single season. As of now, Samson has amassed 477 runs in IPL 2026, averaging 47.7 across 13 innings.
Toss and Match Context
Chennai Super Kings won the toss and chose to bat first, looking to set a solid total against Sunrisers Hyderabad. CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad stated that MS Dhoni was unavailable due to fitness issues, indicating the team’s strategic approach to the match.
In their previous meeting this season, Sunrisers Hyderabad had narrowly defeated CSK by 10 runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Gaikwad emphasized the importance of putting up a strong score on a pitch that looked dry, reflecting the team’s intent to capitalize on their batting opportunities.
