Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra lavished praise on Sanju Samson after Chennai Super Kings registered a convincing eight-wicket win against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on Tuesday. Chasing a below-par score of 156, Samson scored a match-winning knock of 87 runs off just 52 balls.

The CSK opener scored eight fours and seven sixes in his fine knock and was awarded Player of the Match. Samson added a fine alliance of 114 runs off just 66 balls with rookie batter Kartik Sharma, who continued his rich form to score 41 runs. 

Samson has scored 402 runs in 10 matches of IPL 2026 at an average of 57.43 and a strike rate of 167.50.

“These runs came in a run chase, and they were difficult runs as this pitch was slightly difficult. The ball was turning and getting stuck a little on this pitch. He actually played a masterclass on how you can break down a run chase, just like we saw Rohit Sharma on a good pitch and a big total. It was a smaller total here, but we saw Sanju Samson doing that on a tough pitch,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

Chopra praised Samson for taking the attack against Kuldeep Yadav, whereas playing Lungi Ngidi and Mitchell Starc cautiously. Yadav conceded 34 runs in the three overs he bowled.

“He had decided which bowlers he would target, that he would play Lungi Ngidi cautiously and wouldn’t mess with Mitchell Starc at the start, but he said he would take down Kuldeep Yadav. He is the only one who could take him down. He went after him relentlessly. He said he would manage him alone and manage T Natarajan as well. It was so calculated that it was like a chess player making his moves,” he concluded.

Chennai Super Kings will next take on Lucknow Super Giants at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Sunday