Sanju Samson is the new ‘Chettan’ of Chennai and is already a fan favourite at the iconic Chepauk stadium. This was evident when Suryakumar Yadav revealed that he would be in the lineup for the match against Zimbabwe, as a loud cheer engulfed the ground. The reason is simple: Samson will be donning the yellow jersey of Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2026 season.
IND vs ZIM T20 WORLD CUP 2026: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD
The wicketkeeper-batter moved from Rajasthan Royals to five-time IPL champions in an all-cash deal and is expected to play a big role as Chennai enter a new era. However, Samson is staying grounded and keeping the CSK excitement away for a bigger goal. Speaking to Sanjana Ganesan after the win over Zimbabwe, Samson said that the T20 World Cup is the most important thing at the moment for him and he is remaining fully focused on the job at hand.
“Yeah, very much happy (with the cheers from Chennai crowd.) I think I’ve been very excited, but I’m keeping that excitement a bit away. I think this (T20 World Cup 2026) is more important now, and I really value that moment. But as of now, I think I need to be here and totally committed,” said Samson.
HOW IS IT LIKE BATTING WITH ABHISHEK SHARMA?
Samson was once again reinstalled at the top of the batting order with Abhishek Sharma, with whom he has scored 502 runs in 21 matches. The duo put on 48 runs for the first wicket in 22 balls to set the platform for India’s score of 254 at the Chepauk on Thursday. Samson scored 24 off 15 balls to give India the start that they needed.
Samson said that communication with Abhishek is simple and he enjoys batting with the southpaw.
“Yeah, we keep it very simple. He keeps asking me what’s happening with the wicket and I tell him nothing, just watch the ball and hit. I really enjoy batting with him. So we both complement each other really well. So very happy we could actually give India a great start today,” said Samson.
India will face West Indies in Kolkata on Sunday, March 1 in a match that is a virtual knockout, with the winner progressing to the semi-final.
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