Chennai Super Kings endured a shaky start in their IPL 2026 clash against Gujarat Titans, with in-form batter Sanju Samson failing to make an impact at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on April 26. The right-hander, who has been one of CSK’s standout performers this season, managed just 11 runs off 15 balls in a rare off day with the bat.
Asked to bat first in a challenging afternoon game, CSK were immediately put under pressure by a fiery new-ball spell from Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada. Siraj, in particular, tested Samson with a probing line outside off stump, forcing him to take six deliveries to open his account. The early struggle set the tone for a difficult stay at the crease.
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Samson briefly looked to break free with two crisp boundaries off Rabada, hinting at a potential counterattack. However, the momentum was short-lived. In the fourth over, after being tied down by consecutive dot balls, he went hard at a wide delivery clocked at high pace, only to edge it behind to Jos Buttler. It was a soft dismissal that summed up CSK’s early troubles.
DSP Siraj has arrived in Chennai! 🚔🚨
After a spectacular 1st over, #MohammedSiraj followed it up with the wicket of Sarfaraz Khan. 💪#TATAIPL 2026 ➡️ #CSKvGT | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/adMxdN25HT pic.twitter.com/mIzLQisS2V
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 26, 2026
Right intent. Splendid execution. 👏#SanjuSamson gets the first boundary of the day! #TATAIPL 2026 ➡️ #CSKvGT | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/adMxdN25HT pic.twitter.com/jIoBR0LYEY
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 26, 2026
The pressure only intensified moments later when Urvil Patel, making his first appearance of the season, fell in the same over. After an encouraging boundary, he attempted to take on Rabada again but mistimed a sharp bouncer, handing GT another breakthrough.
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CSK’s tactical move to introduce Sarfaraz Khan as an impact player backfired instantly, as he was dismissed for a golden duck by Siraj in the following over. The collapse left the hosts reeling at 34/3 inside eight overs. With Dewald Brevis and Ruturaj Gaikwad at the crease, CSK faced an uphill task to rebuild against a disciplined Gujarat bowling attack that had seized early control of the contest.
