Sanju Samson’s start to life at Chennai Super Kings has come under scrutiny but head coach Stephen Fleming has backed the star batsman to make a comeback. After two stunning outings to open IPL 2026, Fleming insisted Samson’s quality remains unquestioned and a turnaround is only a matter of time.
Samson’s expected move from Rajasthan Royals came with considerable expectations, especially as CSK moved into a new era and the batsman himself won the 2026 Player of the tournament in India’s T20 World Cup triumph. However, scores of 6 and 7 in his first two games have sparked debate about his form. Speak after CSK’s loss to Punjab Kings, Fleming played down concerns and urged patience.
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“He’s not going to score every time. It’s T20 cricket and he just scored one today. But he’s in good form. He’s training well. And when he gets going, he often wins the match. So two innings doesn’t define the area of concern.”
Samson’s struggles have been evident in both outings so far. He fell for 6 off 7 balls against his former team Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati but was dismissed by Nandre Burger before he managed just 7 balls on his debut in Chepauk where Xavier Bartlett came through.
With just 13 runs from two innings at an average of 6.5, the figures underline the slow start. Still, there is a slight sense of alarm in the CSK camp. Samson’s career has often followed a similar pattern, quiet starts followed by strong contributions in the middle stages, which the team continues to rely on.
CSK’S TERRIBLE IPL FORM CONTINUES
While Samson’s form was the talk of the town, CSK’s wider problems added to the pressure. Their defeat to Punjab Kings extended a worrying trend and the five-time champions have now suffered six straight defeats at home.
Despite posting 210 on the bulletin board, CSK failed to defend the total at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Priyansh Arya set the tone with a blistering 39 off 11 balls while Shreyas Iyer anchored the chase with a flowing half-century as Punjab chased down the target in just 18.4 overs.
For a party that has historically relied on Chepauk as a stronghold, the recent decline has been harsh. Last season saw just one win at home and that trend has carried over into 2026, raising questions about terms, combinations and execution.
CSK will now look to regroup quickly as they prepare for their next encounter with Delhi Capitals, with a firm focus on finding consistency – both from their key players like Samson and as a collective unit.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
04 Apr 2026 07:30 IST
