Sanju Samson turned a brief stint at the crease into a career-defining moment on Sunday. Facing Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026’s 37th match at Chepauk, the Rajasthan Royals skipper notched up 11 runs from 15 balls – enough to cross the coveted 5,000-run mark in IPL history.
What makes this special is the pace: Samson needed only 3,555 balls, eclipsing Suresh Raina’s 3,620. Only AB de Villiers, with his blistering 3,288 balls, ranks ahead in the all-time list. Two crisp fours marked Samson’s entry into this elite club, even as his dismissal came early at 21 runs.
Chennai Super Kings, put in to bat, crumbled in the powerplay, limping to 28/3 – a season-low second. Newcomer Urvil Patel scored 4, Sarfaraz Khan fell for nought to Siraj, and Brevis managed 2 before a simple catch. CSK tweaked their XI with Patel’s inclusion, while GT brought in Arshad Khan for Prasidh Krishna.
Samson’s rapid accumulation speaks volumes about his strike rate and adaptability. From explosive starts to anchoring innings, he’s built a legacy that now outpaces one of CSK’s finest. As IPL 2026 heats up, this record cements Samson as a modern-day great.
