IPL 2026: ‘That was for Fleming’ - Sanju Samson reveals reason behind his salute celebration after century against Delhi Capitals

Sanju Samson finally got his 2026 IPL campaign running with a brilliant century in Chennai Super Kings' 23-run win against the Delhi Capitals at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. His unbeaten 115 came off just 56 balls and was the backbone of the Super Kings’ ascent to 212/2 in their 20 overs. With 15 fours and four maximums, he displayed a wide array of strokes and impeccable field manipulation in his innings.

The 31-year-old dedicated his innings to CSK head coach Stephen Fleming, who has come under scrutiny over the past week from players and experts alike as the team had lost their first three games of the season on the trot.

“That was for Fleming. I know how challenging it can be to lead and manage a team for a long time. I just wanted to dedicate the innings to him,” Samson said, speaking in the post-match presentation.

Samson came into IPL 2026 as a major talking point after his trade to the Super Kings, which saw Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran head the other way to the Rajasthan Royals. He spoke of how welcome he has felt in Chennai, and felt the need to perform after the team’s early losses. 

“It didn’t feel like I had joined a new franchise. The group is very welcoming. Even after three losses, the atmosphere remained very composed. That really helped me settle. I felt I had to stand up and contribute, to show that we are still in the tournament,” he noted.

Samson came into the IPL after a highly successful T20 World Cup campaign. He scored 321 runs in five games, with match-defining knocks in the final game of the Super 8s, semi-finals and finals, as India lifted the trophy. His exploits earned him the Player of the Tournament award.

Despite this, he started the IPL in a rut, with scores of 6, 7 and 9. Samson spoke of returning to the basics in his batting and trusting the methods that have brought him success.

“Failures do bring doubts, no matter how much experience you have. I had to go back to basics - focus on timing, watch the ball closely, and trust what has worked for me over the years. Mentally, it’s about finding that zone again and sticking to your processes. We had good preparation sessions, and I’m happy it came together today,” Samson reflected.

This was Samson’s fourth century in the IPL, and his first fifty-plus score for the men in yellow. Having finally opened their account in IPL 2026, the Super Kings host the Kolkata Knight Riders next on April 14 at Chepauk.