Sanju Samson has two centuries for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026. | Photo Credit: AP

It has been a 2026 to remember for Sanju Samson. After initially being dropped from India’s T20 team the 31-year-old returned to the team in memorable fashion, smashing three fifties in three knockout matches as India romped home to its third T20 World Cup title.

He has carried that form forward into his maiden stint with Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026, smashing two centuries in his first eight outings, and has been the lone bright spark in what has been a tough season for the Chennai Super Kings batting group with 304 runs at an average of 50.66 and strike-rate of 169.83. 

This recent form is the culmination of a recent turnaround for the batter, who has added the element of consistency to his much-vaunted batting style. 

It is a change that Sanjay Manjrekar puts down to a technical change. “He has this very beautiful stance, slightly open and nicely balanced, very relaxed. Now, earlier, he had this one movement, a small step forward. And from this position, his whole batting would happen,” Manjrekar explained on Sportstar’s Insight Edge podcast.

“Now, what he has started doing in the same position, he goes right back. Now, the ball is further away from me, so I’m able to pull it and there is more time for me to react to that ball.”

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“The other thing that happens is when you go right back, the bowler sort of becomes a little slower because I’m further away from him. So I get a little more time,” he further explained. 

Manjrekar also noted that Samson had added another shot to his repertoire, the dab to third man. “When there is a good ball that’s bowled very close to him, he’s doing a little tap down to the third man. If he was in the original position, there was no way he would be able to play that.

”“So basically what he’s done is gone back and he’s made all these balls, good balls, scoring deliveries.

“The one ball that can trouble him, if there’s a smart bowler, is if he pitches the ball right up and that troubles him. But he’s also a good front foot player, so if the pitch is not lively, the ball is not moving much, he’s able to drive off the front foot,’ Manjrekar concluded.

Manjrekar also said that Samson’s mentality has contributed to his success, saying, ”Mentally he’s a very interesting character. He’s a very relaxed guy, and it’s not an act, he is genuinely relaxed.”

“In the T20 World Cup, the thing to like about him was the demeanour he has. He played a game and was dropped, but when he came back, he was OK to get out, he didn’t mind getting out. He’s not someone who, because he was out of the team and needs to prove himself, will just pick up the ones and twos, and be the anchor. He’s very selfless. That is the thing to like about him.”

Published on May 01, 2026