Sanju Samson didn’t get off to an ideal start to his IPL journey with his new franchise. Chennai Super Kings (CSK), as the right-handed batsman was clean bowled by Nandre Berger against his former team. Rajasthan Royalsin Guwahati on Monday.Samson was bowled by Nandre Berger while attempting a legside flick. The delivery, driven at 140.2 kmph and hit the off-stump. He scored 6 off 7 balls in his first innings for CSK.Samson’s first innings in yellow, the team with which he had made his name, was soon cut short.It was the first time since 2020 that Samson did not register a score of 50 or more in his opening match of an IPL season.
- 74 (32) vs CSK, 2020
- 119 (63) vs. PBKS, 2021
- 55 (27) vs SRH, 2022
- 55 (32) vs SRH, 2023
- 82* (52) v. LSG, 2024
- 66 (37) vs SRH, 2025
- 6 (7) v. RR, 2026*
Ahead of IPL 2026, RR and CSK completed a trade that saw Samson move to Chennai, while Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran went the other way. Samson was with Rajasthan Royals for 11 years before this move.Earlier, Rajasthan Royals (RR) won the toss and elected to bowl first against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their first match of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season on Monday.After winning the toss, RR captain Ryan Prag said that he had opted to bowl first due to the wet conditions from the recent rain. At the time of writing, CSK were reduced to 30 for 3 in four overs as Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger wreaked havoc in Guwahati, sending Samson, Rutoraj Gaekwad, and Ayush Mahatre back cheaply.
