Sanju Samson expressed delight at playing in front of the Chennai crowd at the M Chidambaram Stadium after the Super Eight match against Zimbabwe in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Samson said he felt the love and support from fans right from the airport, calling the supporters passionate and special.
India secured a comfortable 72-run win over Zimbabwe in their Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2026 on Thursday, February 26. Samson, who replaced Rinku Singh in the playing XI, opened the innings with Abhishek Sharma. The right-hander scored 24 runs off just 15 balls, including one four and two sixes.
This Is the First Time I’m Coming to Chennai – Sanju Samson
In a video shared by the BCCI on its official website, Sanju Samson said this was his first visit to the city after the trade with Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He added that the energy from the fans is always special and described himself as lucky.
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“Yeah, I think after the trade, this is the first time I’m coming to Chennai. Right from the airport, I could feel that special love. Normally, we do come here, as Kerala and Chennai are very close,” Samson said.
“So we visit often, and I do feel that energy every time. I’m fortunate to be part of such great and passionate fans here in Chennai,” he added.
More Than Happiness, It’s an Added Responsibility – Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson said that having so many fans cheering also brings extra responsibility on the field. The wicketkeeper-batter stated that he was truly happy with the support and added that he looks forward to meeting the fans again soon.
“Very happy. More than happiness, it’s an added responsibility that there are so many people cheering for you. I think there is an extra added responsibility to actually entertain them. So yeah, I am very happy. We’ll meet soon,” Samson concluded.
From Sanju Samson,
To Chennai#TeamIndia | #T20WorldCup | #MenInBlue | #INDvZIM | @IamSanjuSamson https://t.co/a7ENoY7akv
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 28, 2026
Rajasthan Royals (RR) traded Samson to Chennai Super Kings ahead of the IPL 2026 season. With CSK playing their home games at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, the venue will serve as Samson’s home ground in the IPL for as long as he remains with the Chennai-based franchise.
Sanju Samson Has Played Only Two Matches in the T20 World Cup 2026
Sanju Samson has featured in only two matches in the T20 World Cup 2026 so far. He lost his spot as the first-choice wicketkeeper after a poor home series against New Zealand, where he scored just 46 runs across five matches.
Samson returned to the playing XI against Namibia after Abhishek missed the game due to illness. He got off to a good start in that match but could not convert it into a big score. He scored 22 runs off eight balls, including one boundary and three sixes, at a strike rate of 275.
Failing to convert good starts has often worked against Samson. This pattern has affected his chances of securing a regular place in the playing XI over the years, despite making his T20I debut in 2015. More than a decade into his international career, Samson has played only 59 T20I matches.
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