Chennai: In a season that began with whispers of doubt, Sanju Samson has officially announced his arrival in the den. On Saturday night, the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium witnessed a historic "passing of the baton" as Samson delivered an explosive, unbeaten 115 off just 56 balls, dismantling the Delhi Capitals and shattering a long-standing franchise record held by the legendary MS Dhoni.

Breaking the "Keeper's Curse"

For 7 long years, the record for the highest score by a wicketkeeper-batsman in a Chennai Super Kings jersey belonged to MS Dhoni. Samson's masterclass, featuring 15 boundaries and 4 towering sixes, surpassed Dhoni's previous franchise high of 84, making him the first gloveman in CSK history to reach the triple-figure mark.

The innings was more than just a statistical milestone; it was a lifeline for the franchise. After a dismal 0-3 start to the 2026 campaign, Samson's century propelled CSK to their first victory of the season, lifting them off the bottom of the points table and restoring faith in the team's massive ₹18 crore investment.

Joining the Pantheon of Legends

With this performance, Samson has etched his name into the elite corridors of IPL history:

• The Three-Franchise King: He is now the first player to record an IPL century for three different franchises (Delhi, Rajasthan, and Chennai).
• The Season Opener: Continuing a bizarre but brilliant trend, Samson has now been the "first centurion of the season" in four separate years (2017, 2019, 2021, and 2026).
• The 400-Club: During his blitz at Chepauk, Samson joined Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav as one of the few Indians to hit 400 career T20 sixes.