Sanju Samson and Shubman Gill (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)
NEW DELHI: Working with lightning speed behind the stumps, taking out the bails in the blink of an eye – it’s a skill that has long been associated with MS Dhoni. On Sunday, Sanju Samson brought back those memories with a brilliant knock for Shubman Gill during the IPL 2026 match between…
Chennai Super Kings
And Gujarat Titans.The moment came in the seventh over of the Gujarat Titans innings. Defending 158/7, CSK were desperate for a breakthrough.The delivery, which drifted down the leg side, almost looked wide, and Gill miscued it. However, Samson was very alert and sharp, collecting the ball and clearing the bails in a split second with Gill’s feet still in the air.It was a stunning piece of wicket-keeping that lifted the crowd in Chipauk, where fans exploded when Samson’s effort sparked memories of Dhoni’s signature brilliance behind the stumps.
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Earlier in the innings, Samson also achieved a major batting feat, becoming the fastest Indian – in terms of facing balls – to reach 5,000 runs in the history of the Indian Premier League. He got there by hitting Kagiso Rabada to the boundary, although the fielder later dismissed him for 11.
Samson is now the 10th batsman overall to cross the 5,000-run mark in the IPL, having reached the milestone in just 180 innings. He took 3,555 balls to get there, placing him among the fastest in the world, behind players such as AB de Villiers.
Having represented Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals and CSK since making his debut in 2013, Samson has built a reputation as a consistent performer. He joins an elite list that includes Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, David Warner, KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni and Ajinkya Rahane.With over 5,000 IPL knocks at a strike rate above 140, along with several centuries and fifties, Samson continues to underscore his value as a dynamic and reliable top-order batsman.