In a dazzling display of power-hitting at the Wankhede Stadium, Sanju Samson etched his name into Chennai Super Kings' rich IPL history.
The Kerala-born
wicketkeeper-batter slammed a sensational unbeaten 101 off just 54 balls, becoming the first CSK player to score a century against Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.
Batting first after MI won the toss, Samson walked in as opener and never looked back. His knock was laced with 10 crisp fours and six towering sixes, coming at a blistering strike rate of 187.04. He reached the three-figure mark with a boundary off the final ball of the innings, powering CSK to a formidable 207 for 6. This was Samson's second century of IPL 2026 and his fifth overall, making him only the second CSK batter after Shane Watson to score two tons in a single season.
Sanju Samson 1st CSK player to score Century vs MI
The innings carried special significance. For 18 years, no CSK batter had managed a hundred against their arch-rivals MI.
Legends like Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni, and Ruturaj Gaikwad had come close, but Samson finally broke the jinx in his first season with the Yellow Army. Acquired ahead of the 2026 auction via a high-profile trade from Rajasthan Royals, the 31-year-old has already justified the move. Earlier this season, he smashed 115 not out against Delhi Capitals-his maiden ton for CSK.
Centuries against MI in IPL
Over the years, a number of players have scored centuries against Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
| Rank | Player | Team | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AB de Villiers | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 133* |
| 2 | Shubman Gill | Gujarat Titans | 129 |
| 3 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | Rajasthan Royals | 124 |
| 4 | Adam Gilchrist | Deccan Chargers | 109* |
| 5 | Ben Stokes | Rajasthan Royals | 107* |
| 6 | Hashim Amla | Kings XI Punjab | 104* |
| 7 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | Rajasthan Royals | 104* |
| 8 | Venkatesh Iyer | Kolkata Knight Riders | 104 |
| 9 | KL Rahul | Lucknow Super Giants | 103* |
| 10 | KL Rahul | Lucknow Super Giants | 103* |
| 11 | Sanju Samson | Chennai Super Kings | 101* |
| 12 | KL Rahul | Kings XI Punjab | 100* |
| 13 | Yusuf Pathan | Rajasthan Royals | 100 |
| 14 | Jos Buttler | Rajasthan Royals | 100 |
