Chennai, Feb 26: On an evening when Chennai's own Anirudh Ravichander set the stage alight with a pre-match performance and Tamil Nadu stalwart Dinesh
Karthik walked out with the T20 World Cup trophy, the loudest roar at Chepauk came at an unexpected moment - the toss on Thursday (February 26).
It had nothing to do with tactics or pitch conditions. It arrived when India captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed that Sanju Samson would feature in the playing XI for the must-win Super Eight clash against Zimbabwe.
The response was instantaneous. The stands erupted with chants of "Chettan," a term of endearment that has already attached itself to Samson ahead of his first season with the Chennai Super Kings.
In a city where cricketing identity blends seamlessly with regional pride and IPL narratives, the wicketkeeper-batter was embraced as one of their own before he had faced a ball.
Look at the roar of the crowd when surya tells that Sanju samson is playing todayy 🔥🔥The crowd went absolutely berserk 🧨🧨
- Dewald Brevis (@Ben10Breviss) February 26, 2026
Chennai crowd loves sanju he became our own even before the ipl 😭😭
Hope chettan has a good game ahead 🚀🚀🚀 pic.twitter.com/zCMlWvlwFz
When Samson walked out to open, the reception only grew louder. He justified the anticipation immediately, launching a towering six off the second ball of the innings off pacer Richard Ngarava, sending the Chepauk crowd into another frenzy.
Anything short was met with authority, and his crisp footwork ensured India got off to a positive start in the powerplay. For a few overs, he looked in complete control, timing the ball cleanly and carrying the energy of the crowd into his strokeplay.
But the promising knock ended sooner than the spectators would have liked. On the fourth ball of the fourth over, Blessing Muzarabani outfoxed him with a 106 kph slower short delivery that held up off the surface. Samson had made room early to pull, but the lack of pace forced him into a mistimed shot that travelled toward deep midwicket. Ryan Burl sprinted in and slid forward to complete a sharp catch, dismissing Samson for 24 off 15 balls, an innings that included two sixes and a boundary.
The dismissal briefly hushed the stadium, but the applause that followed reflected appreciation rather than disappointment. Chepauk had seen enough to believe in what Samson could offer in the future, particularly in yellow. The chants returned as he walked back, underlining the emotional connect that had already been established.
For India, his cameo ensured early momentum in a match they had to win. For Chennai, it was a preview - a glimpse of a batter they will soon cheer through an entire IPL season. Amid the music, the trophy and the high-stakes cricket, it was that toss-time roar for "Chettan" that defined the evening's loudest and most heartfelt moment.
