Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener Sanju Samson has made a significant impact in the IPL 2026 season. His performance has been highlighted by two centuries and a half-century. Recently, Samson broke the all-time IPL record for the most runs scored in a single season by a designated CSK wicketkeeper, previously held by legend MS Dhoni, who amassed 461 runs in 2013. After scoring 27 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Samson’s total now stands at 477 runs in just 13 matches, making him the first wicketkeeper-batter on the verge of reaching 500 runs in a season.
Match Overview Against Sunrisers Hyderabad
In Match 63 of IPL 2026, the Chennai Super Kings battled Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, posting a competitive total of 180 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs. Dewald Brevis played a significant role in this innings, contributing 44 runs.
CSK began their innings aggressively after being asked to bat first. Sanju Samson, the wicketkeeper-batter, set the tone right from the start, hitting a six off the very first ball delivered by Nitish Kumar Reddy, followed by two boundaries that helped CSK collect 17 runs in the opening over. Samson maintained his attacking style, scoring three consecutive fours against Praful Hinge in the next over, leading CSK to a dominant start during the Power-play.
However, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s captain Pat Cummins made a breakthrough by dismissing Samson, who was trying to score quickly. Samson was caught behind after scoring 27 runs off just 13 balls, hitting four boundaries and one six during his innings.
Building the Innings
Following Samson’s early dismissal, young batter Urvil Patel attempted to sustain the aggressive momentum. He managed to hit two sixes off Cummins before falling to a slower delivery from Sakib Husain in the fifth over, scoring 13 runs off eight balls. With two quick wickets down early on, CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad focused on stabilizing the innings and was aided by Kartik Sharma, who played confidently and executed several attractive shots.
Kartik Sharma, targeting Praful Hinge, marked his attendance by hitting two fours and a six in the eighth over, followed by another maximum in the next over. Even amid early setbacks, their partnership sustained a healthy run rate for Chennai Super Kings. Cummins, however, struck again in the tenth over, dismissing Kartik Sharma with a slower delivery. Kartik scored 32 runs off 19 balls before returning to the pavilion, leaving CSK at 91 runs with three wickets lost.
With CSK looking to recover from the loss of wickets, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Cummins soon removed Gaikwad, who managed to score only 15 runs off 21 balls. This wicket marked Cummins’s 200th wicket in T20 cricket.
Partnerships and Key Contributions
After the captain’s dismissal, Shivam Dube and Dewald Brevis initiated a critical partnership, with Brevis displaying his attacking prowess. He effectively countered the SRH bowlers, scoring 18 runs off one over from Nitish Kumar Reddy, enhancing CSK’s score beyond 120 runs. Dube also joined in with boundaries, hitting a six off Eshan Malinga in the 15th over, while Brevis further illuminated the innings with a four and a six against Cummins, taking CSK to 144 runs after 16 overs.
Eventually, SRH managed to capture Brevis’s wicket, who was bowled for 44 runs off 27 balls. Dube also fell shortly after, dismissed by Sakib Husain after scoring 26 runs from 23 balls. In the closing overs, Prashant Veer added a brisk 11 runs as CSK finished their innings at 180 runs for seven wickets.
For Sunrisers Hyderabad, Pat Cummins stood out as the leading bowler with impressive figures of 3/28 in four overs. Sakib Husain claimed two wickets while Praful Hinge and Eshan Malinga took one wicket each.
