Sanju Samson joins elite list of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul after unbeaten 87 against DC

Sanju Samson joined the elite list of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul after his match-winning knock of 87* against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Samson is playing in IPL 2026 after a historic Rs 18 crore trade from Rajasthan Royals to Chennai Super Kings. He is currently among the top five run-scorers in the tournament and remains firmly in contention for the Orange Cap, having scored 402 runs in 10 matches at an average of 57.42.

In Tuesday’s match against Delhi Capitals, Samson smashed an unbeaten 87 off 52 balls to earn the Player of the Match award. He also scripted history by becoming the first batter ever to be involved in two 100-plus partnerships against Delhi Capitals in a single IPL season. Earlier this season, Samson scored his first century of the campaign, an unbeaten 115 against Delhi Capitals in Chennai. That innings took his total tally against DC this season to 202 runs, making it the third-highest aggregate by a batter against a single opponent in one IPL edition.

Only Virat Kohli and KL Rahul are ahead of him on the list. Kohli amassed 209 runs against Gujarat Lions during IPL 2016, including two centuries, in what turned out to be his record-breaking season of 973 runs in 16 innings. KL Rahul sits second with 206 runs against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2022 while representing Lucknow Super Giants, scoring twin centuries against MI in the same season.

Here are the top five highest aggregates by a batter against a single opponent in an IPL edition:

• 209 - Virat Kohli vs GL in 2016 (100* & 109)
• 206 - KL Rahul vs MI in 2022 (103* & 103*)
• 202 - Sanju Samson vs DC in 2026 (115* & 87*)
• 196 - Chris Gayle vs PWI in 2013 (175* & 21)
• 193 - KL Rahul vs RCB in 2020 (132* & 61*)

CSK alive in playoffs race

Chennai Super Kings kept their playoff hopes alive with a commanding eight-wicket win over Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in IPL 2026. After restricting DC to 155/7 on a sluggish pitch through disciplined bowling from Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad, CSK chased down the target comfortably in 17.3 overs.

Despite some resistance from Sameer Rizvi and Tristan Stubbs, Delhi collapsed to 69/5 and never recovered. In reply, Sanju Samson starred with an unbeaten 87 off 52 balls, while Kartik Sharma supported him brilliantly in an unbroken 114-run partnership. The victory lifted CSK to fifth place in the standings, while DC moved closer to elimination.