Chennai Super Kings (CSK) defeated Delhi Capitals (DC) by eight wickets in the 48th match of IPL 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday (May 5), chasing 156 with 15 deliveries to spare.

Sanju Samson's unbeaten 87 off 52 balls anchored the chase after tight bowling from Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad restricted DC to 155/7.

After receiving the Player-of-the-Match award, Samson shared his thoughts on the crowd calling him ‘Chetta.’ He highlighted working on his initial movement for several months, trusting his hands, and acting on a tactical plan based on the bowler and wicket.

"Yeah, they are calling me Chetta, but I like Sanju more. (so much time to play your shots) Yeah, I think we try to find out what works really well for you and you try to stick to the basics and you trust your hands to do the job in this format. So I think I have been trying to do that from last two-three months. I have been working a bit on my initial movement a bit and it has been coming off nicely,” Samson said in the post-match presentation.

“(on his trigger movements at the crease) Yeah, I have been doing it from last three to five years. So I think comfort definitely plays a huge role in your mindset and [I think] the confidence which you have to go and bat in. And then definitely it's a tactical move as well. So according to the bowlers and the wicket, I try to move around a bit,” he added.

Samson emphasized that he has always been a calm person, and people only notice it more now because he is spending much more time in the middle.

“To be very honest, I am always like this. The biggest change is you are seeing me more in the middle now, so I think that's why people are saying he's very calm. Even [when] I am sitting out, I am just very calm actually. So when I am batting, 'thoda zyaada ho raha hai, toh sab dekh raha hain ki, haan yaar, ye thoda zyaada calm hai' [there is a little more happening, so everyone is watching that yes, this guy is a little more calm],” he stated.

Reflecting on his knock, Samson said: “Honestly sir, I think looking at what we were chasing and how the wicket was behaving, I felt that even if we have like 30-35 runs for no loss or one wicket, we could easily, like knowing what I can do against the spin and in the middle-overs also, I know my gameplan pretty well. So I thought even if I take some extra time in the powerplay, with the type of shots which I have, I think I can capitalise in the middle-overs. So that was the plan and sometimes it comes off nicely. So today, it came off. Very happy.”

Sanju Samson indicated that chasing a 100 would have required selfish play, so he chose to focus on winning the match instead. The wicketkeeper-batter noted his partner was batting well and he didn't want to break the momentum by asking for a single to reach his personal milestone.

Samson expressed that winning for the team provides more satisfaction than personal milestones, though he still aims to reach three-figure mark in future games.

“(this knock better than a 100?) No. Hundreds are always special, sir. I think so. (no desire to get to the 100 today?) Yeah, it was, but I was like I had to be a bit too selfish to get that. So I thought let's win the game and the other partner was batting really well. So I didn't want to tell him, 'ek single dey de yaar, mai sau bana tha hoon' [take a single, I will get my 100]. So I didn't say that. So I think really enjoyed, I think coming not out, finishing off the game gives you a better satisfaction. So I just enjoyed it and few more games to go. Let's see if I get those three figures once again,” he remarked.