Samson greeted with 'Sanju, Sanju!' chants at Chepauk ahead of maiden IPL season with CSK: ‘Anbuden welcome’

Sanju Samson received a hero’s welcome at Chepauk on Sunday ahead of the 19th season of the Indian Premier League, which will be the India T20 star’s maiden season with the Chennai Super Kings. Samson had arrived at the MA Chidambaram Stadium along with legendary wicketkeeper and former captain MS Dhoni for CSK’s ROAR 2026 event on Sunday.

Watch: A hero’s welcome at Chepauk

Fresh from playing a central role in India’s historic T20 World Cup triumph earlier this month, Samson was welcomed with chants of ‘Sanju, Sanju’ at the home venue of the five-time IPL champions. CSK posted a clip of the same on X on Sunday with the caption, “Anbuden welcome, Sanju Samson”.

Anbuden welcome, Sanju Samson! 🦁💛#WhistlePodu #Roar26 pic.twitter.com/j85ULbBKRt

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 22, 2026

Samson had joined CSK on a blockbuster trade ahead of the IPL mini auction in December after 11 seasons with Rajasthan Royals, with the Super Kings sending former captain Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to the 2008 champions in exchange.

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His arrival at Chepauk also led to a debate over CSK captaincy – whether Ruturaj Gaikwad should continue in the role he had been appointed to in 2024 or hand the responsibility over to Samson, who had led RR to the final of the 2022 edition. Chennai, however, have opted to back Gaikwad in the role despite the team failing to reach the playoffs in consecutive seasons under his leadership.

The 31-year-old had been doing through a period of uncertainty with regards to his place in India’s T20I team around the same time. And while he was eventually included in the T20 World Cup squad at the expense of Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, Samson was initially not included on the Men in Blue’s playing XI for the mega event.

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Samson, however, finally lived up to his potential when the situation got tough for the Suryakumar Yadav-led side – delivering a hat-trick of match-winning performances (97 not out, 89 and 89) in the virtual quarter-final against West Indies as well as in the semi-final and final against England and New Zealand respectively.

Despite being left out of India’s XI during the first half, Samson was adjudged the Player of the Tournament. And the CSK team management will be hoping he’s able to carry that red-hot form over to the 19th season of the world’s richest T20 league.