Chennai, April 11 Chennai Super Kings opener Sanju Samson said he went back to basics after three batting failures as he set up his team's 23-run win over Delhi Capitals with an unbeaten century in the IPL here on Saturday.
Samson scored 6, 7, and 9 in CSK's three consecutive losses in IPL 2026, before his 56-ball 115 not out, studded with 15 fours and four sixes, gave the home side their first win of the season.
"I had a lot of failures. Those failures tell you how to come back. Mentally, you think about whether you need to be aggressive or change the game plan. You need to bring your body and mind back to basics," Samson said at the post-match presentation.
"The basics are to get into a mentally different zone. We need to focus on timing the ball and watching it come nicely from the bowler's hand. I am very happy that things turned out well today."
He said it was not easy to join a new franchise – from RR to CSK this season – but the team environment has made it easy for him.
"It means a lot. The trust that the CSK franchise showed in me was a very responsible feeling. I needed to perform and show that we were still in the tournament," said the player of the match.
"It was not easy to start with a different franchise, but it never felt like it. It was like coming to a second home. We just had a 50-second meeting today (despite three losses) – that reflects who I am."
On his 113-run partnership with young Ayush Mhatre (59), he said, "It is very important to have a great partnership. He (Mhatre) never looked like he was from U-19 – he was very calculative. This shows his character."
On his hundred celebration, Samson said, "This was for (Stephen) Fleming. I know how hard it can be to lead a franchise for years. I just wanted to dedicate this innings to Fleming."
CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad said the team felt good to finally get the win.
"Great performance. We had been batting well. To post 200-210 when the wicket is on the slower side, we were showing good signs. One of those knocks where Sanju played brilliantly against the opposition. Ayush also played well."
"But today was about the bowling. Taking wickets and bowling aggressively. We don't have that 'X-factor' in our bowling, but we have been discussing how to be more effective and proactive. In the last few games, we were almost there. Some big overs cost us."
"Bowling wise, we were on the mark (tonight). We were set back in the powerplay but we came back after it."
DC captain Axar Patel said fielding was the difference in the match.
"We started well but after the powerplay, we lost quick wickets and that broke the momentum. Fielding was the difference in the match. Wickets falling in clusters made it tough to regain momentum.
"The batters did a decent job, but overall, our fielding was disappointing. I want to credit the bowlers, for keeping them to that score, despite them having set batters on a good wicket.
"A couple of dropped catches, if we had taken them, it might have been different. The pitch did not change. It was a little more difficult for them (with the dew in the second innings) but they bowled pretty well," he noted.