Sanju Samson scored 87 not out instead of pursuing a century to prioritize his team's victory over individual records. He embraced Gautam Gambhir's philosophy of putting the team first, contributing to CSK's fifth consecutive win.
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Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson refuses to be 'selfish' for 100 vs DC: Why the CSK star chose Gautam Gambhir’s way over Virat Kohli’s record feat originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Sanju Samson scored a scintillating 87* off 52 balls against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday evening to steer Chennai Super Kings to an eight-wicket victory.
After driving and pulling his way to 66 from 36 balls, including a brutal 16 runs plundered off a single T Natarajan over in the 15th, he needed just 21 more runs to complete a third century of the season.
Only three batters in IPL history have managed three or more hundreds in a single edition: Virat Kohli, who scored four in 2016; Jos Buttler, who matched that tally in 2022; and Shubman Gill, who reached three in 2023.
With Chennai needing only 18 runs to win, the target was reachable, and the record was staring Samson in the face.
Rather than nudging singles to retain the strike and inch towards three figures, he stepped aside and allowed young Kartik Sharma, who was timing the ball beautifully at the other end, to take the game home.
Sanju Samson prioritized his team's victory over personal milestones, finishing with 87 not out to help CSK win.
He followed Gautam Gambhir's 'team over self' philosophy, emphasizing team success over individual achievements.
CSK has now won five consecutive matches, strengthening their position in the playoff race.
Samson's decision to focus on the team's success has significantly improved CSK's chances of making the playoffs.
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Sharma finished unbeaten on 41 off 31 and hit the winning boundary while Samson remained 87 not out off 52 balls, having struck six sixes and seven fours.
When asked about the decision after the match, Samson was disarmingly candid. He admitted that the hundred was very much on his mind, but said pursuing it would have meant being selfish, and that was not something he was willing to be.
“Hundreds are always special,” Samson admitted. "Yeah, it was (on his desire to get the 100 against Delhi), but I felt I had to be a bit too selfish for that. So I thought, let’s win the game. The other partner was batting really well, and I didn’t want to tell him, ‘ek single de de yaar, main sau bana leta hoon’ [take a single, I’ll get my 100]. So I didn’t say that. I really enjoyed it, coming not out and finishing the game gives you better satisfaction."
With momentum firmly behind them, Chennai face back-to-back fixtures against Lucknow Super Giants, at home on May 10 and then away on May 15, which could prove decisive in confirming their playoff spot.
| Batter | Season | Centuries | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 2016 | 4 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| Jos Buttler | 2022 | 4 | Rajasthan Royals |
| Shubman Gill | 2023 | 3 | Gujarat Titans |
| Sanju Samson | 2026 | 2* | Chennai Super Kings |
It was almost word-for-word the philosophy that India head coach Gautam Gambhir has championed publicly, placing collective outcomes above individual glory. Samson, though currently outside the national setup, has clearly internalised that thinking.
Statistics matter in cricket, but moments of selflessness matter more. Samson had every justification to farm the strike and chase that hundred — no one would have criticised him. The fact that he did not, and that he did not even seem conflicted about it, tells you something about where his game is right now. Chennai are better for having him, and Indian cricket will be better for recalling him.
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