Star opener Virat Kohli expressed grief for wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson during the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Kohli’s reaction to Samson’s dismissal quickly went viral on social media platforms.
Chennai Super Kings suffered a 43-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bangalore at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday, April 5. Samson continued his poor start to the 2026 season by recording another single-digit score. CSK failed to chase the big target given by Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Watch: Virat Kohli sad for Sanju Samson in RCB vs CSK IPL 2026 clash
Jacob Duffy bowled a length ball to the right-handed batsman. Sanju Samson tried to drive, but his legs did not move. He got a thick edge and Devdutt Padikkal took a sharp catch at first slip. The wicketkeeper-batsman scored only nine runs in five balls.
After getting out, Virat Kohli was seen saddened by Samson’s departure in the broadcast camera. Following his high-profile trade from Rajasthan Royals (RR), Samson has now recorded three consecutive single-digit scores in the ongoing tournament.
Sanju Samson joins Chennai Super Kings for ₹18 crore ahead of the 2026 season. Super Kings traded Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to Rajasthan Royals. Samson scored six runs against Royals and seven runs against Punjab Kings (PBKS).
The Kerala-born cricketer played 149 matches for Rajasthan Royals, scoring 4,027 runs at an average of 31.70. He was the first player to score 4,000 runs for the Rajasthan franchise.
Overall, Samson has scored 4,726 runs in 180 matches at a strike rate of 138.91, which includes 29 fifties and three centuries. During the T20 World Cup, he scored 321 runs in five innings in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 victory. He was chosen Player of the Tournament.
Sanju Samson’s poor form has increased CSK’s problems in IPL 2026.
Chennai Super Kings lost three consecutive matches due to poor performance from the top order of Sanju Samson. The team also finished at the bottom of the table in the 2025 season. They are currently in tenth place without any points.
Chennai Super Kings will next face Delhi Capitals on April 11 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. They need strong performances from Samson to justify their big investment.
MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis, who missed the first three matches due to injuries, are in contention for selection in the upcoming games. Ruturaj Gaikwad is under pressure after the team’s disappointing performance under his captaincy.
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