Sanju Samson has etched his name into IPL history, joining the elite company of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul after a breathtaking unbeaten 87 against Delhi Capitals. The Chennai Super Kings star delivered a masterclass at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, guiding his team to a crucial eight-wicket victory that keeps their playoff dreams alive.
Samson, who made headlines with a record ₹18 crore trade from Rajasthan Royals to CSK ahead of IPL 2026, continues to justify his price tag. Currently sitting among the top five run-scorers in the tournament, he has amassed 402 runs in 10 matches at a stellar average of 57.42—putting him firmly in the Orange Cap race.
Tuesday's innings was nothing short of spectacular. Samson smashed 87 off just 52 balls, earning the Player of the Match award for his composure and power-hitting. But the numbers tell an even bigger story: he became the first batter ever to be part of two 100-plus partnerships against Delhi Capitals in a single IPL season. Earlier this campaign, he scored a breathtaking unbeaten 115 against the same opposition in Chennai, taking his total tally against DC this season to a staggering 202 runs.
That aggregate places Samson third on the all-time list for most runs by a batter against a single opponent in one IPL edition. Only two legends stand ahead of him: Virat Kohli, who piled up 209 runs against Gujarat Lions during his record-breaking 2016 season (973 runs overall, including two centuries), and KL Rahul, who scored 206 runs against Mumbai Indians in 2022 while leading Lucknow Super Giants, also with twin centuries.
Here's a look at the top five highest aggregates against a single opponent in an IPL season:
On the night, CSK's victory was a team effort. After restricting Delhi Capitals to 155/7 on a sluggish pitch—thanks to disciplined spells from Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad—the chase was clinical. Despite resistance from Sameer Rizvi and Tristan Stubbs, Delhi slumped to 69/5 and never recovered. Samson then took center stage, finding able support from Kartik Sharma as CSK cruised home in just 17.3 overs.
For cricket fans and sports enthusiasts alike, Samson's rise this season has been a story of resilience and class. And with the playoffs approaching, his form could be the X-factor that propels CSK deeper into the tournament.