Sanju Samson’s six-year IPL opening-match incredible streak ends with flop CSK debut against RR

Sanju Samson failed on CSK debut, ending an incredible six-year IPL opening-match streak. Chennai Super Kings are in deep trouble against Rajasthan Royal.

Sanju Samson's CSK debut against his former team RR proved to be a damp squib. Image: AP

FirstCricket Staff|Mar 30, 2026, 20:32:08 IST

Sanju Samson not only failed to have a memorable debut for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) but his six-year incredible streak also came to an end against his former team, Rajasthan Royals (RR), in the IPL 2026 opener at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Monday.

Samson moved to CSK from RR for Rs 18 crore last year, but was dismissed cheaply for just six in seven balls by pacer Nandre Burger. The South African left-arm quick bowler cleaned up Samson in his very first over. And with this, Samson's stunning streak of making fifties in all his IPL opening matches since 2020 came to an end.

Samson loses IPL incredible streak

Samson had scored a fifty in all his IPL opening matches between 2020 and 2025. His scores in the opening matches from IPL 2020 to 2025 read: 74 (32) vs CSK in 2020, 119 (63) vs PBKS in 2021, 55 (27) vs SRH in 2022, 55 (32) vs SRH in 2023, 82* (52) vs LSG in 2024 and 66 (37) vs SRH in 2025.

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