Chennai Super Kings opener Sanju Samson said he went back to the basics after three batting failures as he set up his side’s 23-run win over Delhi Capitals with an unbeaten hundred in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Chennai on Saturday.

Samson made 6, 7 and 9 in CSK’s three losses in a row in IPL 2026, before his 56-ball unbeaten 115, studded with 15 fours and four sixes, gave the home side its first win of the season.

“I failed a lot. Failing a lot tells you how to come back. Mentally, you think if you need to go hard or change the gameplan. You need to bring your body and mind to basics,” Samson said at the post-match presentation.

“Basics are to get in a mentally different zone. We need to come back to timing the ball and watching it come out nicely from the bowler’s hand. Very happy things have come (out) nicely today.”

He said it was not easy to join a new franchise—from RR to CSK this season—but the team environment has made it easy for him.

“Really means a lot. The trust they (CSK franchise) showed in me, it was a very responsible feeling that I needed to put in a show and say we are still in the tournament,” said Samson.

“Not easy to start off at a different franchise b,ut it never felt like it. It was like coming to a second home. We just had a meeting of 50 seconds today (despite three losses)—that connects with the kind of person I am.”

On his 113-run partnership with youngster Ayush Mhatre (59), he said, “Very important to have a great partnership. It never looked like he (Mhatre) was coming out of U-19—he was so calculative. Shows the character he has.”

On his hundred celebration, Samson said, “That was for (Stephen) Fleming. I know how hard it can get, leading a franchise for years. Just wanted to dedicate this (innings) to Fleming.”

Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad said the team felt good to finally get the win.

“Great performance. We had been batting well. To post 200-210, when the wicket is on the slower side, we were showing good signs. One of those knocks where Sanju took on the opposition, played a magnificent knock. Ayush also. But today was about the bowling. Taking wickets, bowling aggressive lengths. We do not have that X-factor in the bowling, but we have been discussing on how to be more effective and more proactive. In the last few games, we were almost there. Some big overs cost us.

“Bowling-wise, we were on the mark (tonight). We were set back in the PowerPlay, but we came back after it.”

Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel said the fielding was the difference in the match.

“We started well, but after the PowerPlay, we lost quick wickets, and that broke the momentum. The fielding was the difference in the match. Wickets falling in clusters made it tough to regain momentum. Batters did a decent job, but overall, our fielding was a let-down. Want to credit the bowlers, to keep them to that score, despite them having set batters on a good wicket. A couple of dropped catches, had we taken them, it might have been different. Pitch did not change. It was a little more difficult for them (with the dew in the second innings) but they bowled pretty well,” he noted.

Published on Apr 12, 2026