Sanju Samson enters Virat Kohli's league [Source: AP]Opening batter Sanju Samson sustained his purple patch in the IPL 2026, smashing yet another match-winning knock against Delhi Capitals. His power-packed half-century not only scripted a much-needed win for his side but also helped him recreate Virat Kohli and KL Rahul's rare IPL record. Led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK handed a heavy eight-wicket defeat to DC, as Samson stepped up with a scintillating half-century during the run chase. The win over the Capitals marked the Super Kings' fifth victory this season, keeping them alive in the IPL playoff race. While young batter Kartik Sharma contributed 41 runs, Samson remained unbeaten on 87 runs off just 52 deliveries. Sanju Samson's blitz power CSK to 5th IPL 2026 winAfter winning the toss, Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel opted to bat first at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. His decision proved disastrous for the team, as CSK dismantled their top order, riding on sublime bowling spells from Noor Ahmad and Akeal Hosein. The home side lost wickets at regular intervals; however, valuable contributions from Tristan Stubbs and Sameer Rizvi propelled them to a respectable 155 for the loss of 7 wickets. Also Read: MS Dhoni's CSK Replacement Announced Publicly By Former Indian Test Team MemberIn response, the Super Kings lost their captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, early in the innings. Although Urvil Patel departed for 17 runs, Sanju Samson stitched a valiant partnership with Kartik Sharma, as the duo led CSK to their fifth victory of the season. Samson hammered 87 runs with the help of seven boundaries and six sixes, thereby joining Virat Kohli and KL Rahul in an elite list of batters with a rare IPL record. Sanju Samson recreates Virat Kohli, KL Rahul's unique IPL recordSanju Samson has amassed 402 runs, including two hundreds, at an average of 57.43 and a strike rate of 167.50 in the IPL 2026 so far. Interestingly, 202 of his 402 runs have come against Delhi Capitals in the IPL this year. Thus, Samson became the third batter after Virat Kohli and KL Rahul to register more than 200 runs against an opponent team in a single IPL edition. While Kohli achieved the remarkable feat against Gujarat Lions in 2016, Rahul did it against Mumbai Indians in the 2022 edition of the tournament. Batters With Most Runs vs a Single Opponent in an IPL Edition209 - Virat Kohli vs Gujarat Lions in 2016 (100* & 109)206 - KL Rahul vs Mumbai Indians in 2022 (103* & 103*)202 - Sanju Samson vs Delhi Capitals in 2026 (115* & 87*)196 - Chris Gayle vs Pune Warriors India in 2013 (175* & 21)193 - KL Rahul vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2020 (132* & 61*)Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Sanju Samson: Divided by teams, united by consistencyKohli, Rahul and Samson have been extraordinary for their respective teams in the IPL 2026. The experienced campaigners have shown incredible consistency, piling up truckloads of runs this season. While Kohli has struck 379 runs at an average of 54.14, Samson is currently among the top five run-getters in the IPL 2026, with KL Rahul leading the Orange Cap race with 445 runs under his belt. Also Read: IPL 2026: SRH vs PBKS Prediction, Match 49- Who Will Win Today?
