Sanju Samson record: Rewriting the IPL record books, Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) opening batter Sanju Samson posted a new record in his name on Sunday at Chennai’s Chepauk stadium, in the match against Gujarat Titans (GT). He emerged as the fastest Indian batter to log 5,000 runs in the competition, in the 37th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
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CSK batter Sanju Samson[/caption]
Although Samson could not replicate his dazzling 101* from the previous outing against Mumbai Indians (MI), his brief knock of 11 runs proved to be historic. He smashed a boundary off Kagiso Rabada in the second over, to reach his milestone in just 3,555 balls.
With the achievement, Samson stands on the third spot on the all-time list for the fewest deliveries taken to reach 5,000 IPL runs. He trails AB de Villiers (3,288 balls) and David Warner (3,554 balls), while surpassing Indian stalwarts like Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni and KL Rahul.
Sanju Samson record: High-stakes clash underway at Chepauk
The contest marked the first match of Sunday’s double-header, with both CSK and GT entering the fixture evenly poised. Each side has posted three wins and four defeats from their opening seven matches, making the encounter crucial in shaping the mid-season standings.
CSK arrived brimming with confidence following a commanding victory over MI. It rode on Samson’s match-winning century, coupled with a four-wicket haul from Akeal Hosein. Returning to their fortress in Chennai, where they have already bagged two wins from first three matches, they were keen to extend their strong home record.
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Sanju Samson[/caption]
Titans under pressure
In contrast, GT have found themselves under mounting pressure. Despite a fine century from Sai Sudharsan in recent outings, they faced consecutive defeats against MI and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), which laid bare their frailties in their middle order. However, their bowling unit continues to be a source of optimism, as they eye consistency.
Also read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi becomes 1st batter to notch three half-centuries in 15 balls or fewer; rewrites IPL record books