With ruthless precision, Samson bludgeoned 15 boundaries and 4 maximums, maintaining an astonishing strike rate over 200. This was his landmark fourth IPL hundred, the first in yellow, and it ranks as the fourth-highest score by a CSK player in the tournament.

History was revisited when Samson joined an elite club. Only Murali Vijay had previously notched a century for CSK versus DC, way back in 2012. Samson’s pedigree shines through; he’s just the second cricketer, after KL Rahul, to bag IPL tons representing three teams—Rajasthan, Delhi, and now Chennai.

The foundation was laid by a 113-run alliance with opener Ayush Mhatre (59 off 36, retired out), eclipsed only once in CSK-DC history for partnerships. Shivam Dube’s unbeaten 20 off 10 sealed a commanding 212/2. Axar Patel’s lone scalp was scant consolation for DC’s attack.

CSK’s total stands as their third-best against this opponent, underscoring Samson’s pivotal role. In a league defined by momentum swings, this innings could pivot CSK’s fortunes, reminding everyone of the wicketkeeper-batsman’s enduring class.