New Delhi: Head coach Stephen Fleming has defended Sanju Samson after the opener’s quiet start with Chennai Super Kings in the 2026 Indian Premier League season.
Samson, who joined Chennai ahead of the season after leaving Rajasthan Royals, has come under early criticism after scoring just 6 and 7 runs in his first two matches. The wicketkeeper batter arrived at the franchise with high expectations, particularly after being named Player of the Tournament in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year.
Responding to questions about Samson’s form, Fleming said it was too early to judge the batter based on two innings. He emphasised that inconsistency is common in T20 cricket and maintained that Samson remains in good rhythm during training sessions. According to the coach, once Samson finds his momentum, he has the ability to win matches single handedly.
Samson’s first appearance for Chennai this season came against his former team Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati, where he scored 6 runs from 7 balls. In his debut match at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, popularly known as Chepauk, he managed only 7 runs from 7 deliveries against Punjab Kings.
Statistically, Chepauk has not been a favourable venue for Samson. Across six innings at the stadium in his IPL career, he has scored 66 runs at an average of 11 with a strike rate of 100, making it his least productive IPL venue among grounds where he has played at least five innings.
Chennai Super Kings are currently looking to rebuild after a disappointing previous season in which they finished at the bottom of the table. Their campaign this year has also begun with two consecutive defeats.
The team will now look to bounce back when they face defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their next match, with hopes that Samson can soon rediscover his scoring touch.
