Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 The unforgettable moments continue to deliver, and one of the most astonishing moments came during the clash between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.
Nandre Burger stuns sanju samson with a dream delivery
In a moment that silenced the crowd, RR fast bowler Nandre Berger bowled a brilliant ball to dismiss Sanju Samson for just six runs in his debut for CSK. What was expected to be a big opportunity for Samson soon turned into a nightmare, as Berger’s talent stole the spotlight.
Starting the batting in the new colours, Samson looked cautious in the beginning, perhaps he is still settling into his role. But in the second over, Burger adopted an aggressive approach and bowled such a ball which every fast bowler dreams of.
Clocking in at 140.2 kmph, the delivery pitched at a good length and moved away subtly after pitching. Samson, looking to flick it towards the leg side, but misread the line completely. The ball touched his bat and hit the off stump, causing the bails to fly.
There was no reaction from Samson for a moment – just disbelief. His feet remained steady, his bat was not close to the ball. It was the kind of delivery that leaves even the best batsmen helpless, and Berger knew it immediately, and was celebrating as if it could already be one of the balls of the tournament.
CSK collapse after Samson’s early dismissal
Samson’s early dismissal was not just another wicket – it marked the end of an incredible series. Since 2020, the wicketkeeper-batsman has scored a half-century or more in every IPL season opener, and has consistently set the tone for his team year after year.
From a explosive 74 in 2020 to a century in 2021 and multiple half-centuries in the subsequent seasons, Samson had built a reputation for making strong starts. But IPL 2026 told a different story. His score of 6(7) not only ended the streak but also highlighted how quickly fortunes can change in T20 cricket.
This incident made that moment even more dramatic. Samson was facing his former franchise RR, a team he had represented and led as captain for over a decade. After moving to CSK in a high-profile trade along with Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, there were a lot of expectations surrounding his debut.
Instead, it was Berger who owned the narrative.
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Samson’s wicket led to the collapse of the top order. CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad fell soon after, being dismissed cheaply by Jofra Archer.
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The pressure increased further when young Ayush Mhatre was dismissed by Berger again for a golden duck.
Within the first three overs, CSK found themselves completely on the backfoot at 19 for 3. Moving on, RR bowlers offered no respite and bowled out Super Kings for just 127 runs in 19.4 overs.
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