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

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.

Well, Samson wasn’t the only one to have a bad night as captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and young prodigy Ayush Mhatre also got out cheaply inside the powerplay. With Mathew Short also departing, CSK lost a shocking four wickets in the powerplay.

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At the time of publishing this report, CSK were six wickets down in 10 overs for 70 runs. Former CSK spinner Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets, while Burger has two scalps. Jofra Archer and Brijesh Sharma also took a wicket each.