After Chennai Super Kings’ clinical win over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, the loudest tribute to Sanju Samson’s match-winning century came not from the commentary box but from the literary world. Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament and long-time advocate of the Kerala-born wicketkeeper-batsman, took to social media to celebrate the milestone with a specially composed poem.
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Tharoor’s relationship with Samson’s career was one of unwavering loyalty. Over the years, the celebrated politician has often voiced his support during Samson’s intermittent spells with the national party, often serving as a vocal critic of the consistent narrative that pulled the dough. After Samson’s commanding performance in Mumbai, Tharoor moved beyond prose to capture the aesthetic appeal of the knock.
The tribute was crafted in a classic lyrical style using rhyming AABB couplets that reflect the rhythmic and balanced nature of Samson’s bat. The structure—where the first line rhymes with the second and the third with the fourth—provides a melodic pace that reflects the effortless flight that Tharoor describes in his verses.
It was Samson’s second century for CSK in IPL 2026 as the new wicketkeeper-batsman, traded from Rajasthan Royals, made an immediate impact on the Super Kings. He became only the second CSK batsman after Shane Watson in 2018 to score two hundreds in an IPL season.
The poem is reproduced in full below: Screengrab from X
The poem is certainly an ode to the technical purity that defined Samson’s 2026 season, particularly his ability to maintain stylish control without resorting to pedaling.
Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 101 off 54 balls was the cornerstone of Chennai Super Kings’ authoritative performance against Mumbai Indians. Entering the fray early, Samson anchored the innings with a blend of traditional stroke play and modern power hitting, smashing 10 boundaries and six maximums to propel CSK to a formidable total.
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It was Samson’s awareness of the game that stood out. Samson took the onus of batting over 20 overs and held one end even as wickets fell at the other. In the dying overs, Samson made sure he took no chances against Jasprit Bumrah, Mumbai Indians’ leading paceman, and went after rookie Krish Bhagat in the last over to plunder 15 runs and take the total past 200.
The chase was disastrous for Mumbai.
Despite the home team’s attempt to strengthen their lineup and a controversial concussion substitutethey were blindsided by CSK’s tactical masterstroke: the introduction of Akeal Hosein as an Impact Player. Hosein’s left-arm spin decimated MI’s top order, reducing them to 11 for 3 during the over. He finished with remarkable figures of 4 for 17 as Mumbai collapsed for 104, giving CSK a comprehensive victory in the most awaited rivalry of the season.
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Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
24 Apr 2026 09:42 IST
