IPL: Sanju Samson walks off after getting dismissed. (Reuters Photo)

IPL: Where is T20 World Cup hero Sanju Samson? CSK coach plays down rough start

IPL: Chennai Super Kings star recruit Sanju Samson is still settling into the side, said Stephen Fleming after the team's third straight loss in the IPL's 2026 season. Samson has a horrid start so far in the tournament, failing in all three matches so far.

06 Apr 2026, 03:06 by India Today Sports Desk · India Today

In Short

CSK suffered their third straight loss in IPL 2026
Sanju Samson scored in single digits once again
Stephen Fleming spoke about the batter's adaptation in the side

Chennai Super Kings’ marquee trade ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season, Sanju Samson, failed for the third straight game. Chasing a daunting 251-run target at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Samson was once again dismissed for a single-digit score as CSK slumped to their third consecutive loss in the campaign.

CSK head coach Stephen Fleming defended Samson amid his poor run, stating that the wicketkeeper-batter was still settling into the team. Chennai Super Kings had to part ways with two of their key players, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, to bring in Samson from Rajasthan Royals. However, the move has not yet paid off, with the batter repeatedly falling to the new ball - a sharp dip from his exploits in the T20 World Cup just a month ago.

WHAT'S GONE WRONG WITH SANJU SAMSON?

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Fleming said that it is difficult for any player to adjust to a new franchise after spending several years with one team.

Samson made his IPL debut in 2013 with Rajasthan Royals and rose through the ranks to become their captain before deciding to move to CSK, who were looking for a long-term replacement for MS Dhoni.

"It's difficult when you've been at a franchise for some time, and even though he probably feels pretty comfortable, there's still an element of belonging. He's going through the process of connecting with this team, and the team has got five or six changes, so it's not like it's a settled side," Fleming said.

RCB vs CSK: Scorecard | Highlights

The head coach acknowledged that CSK are working off the field to help Samson settle into the setup and regain confidence.

"So there's a little bit of work to be done off the field, which we're doing, just to make the bonds a bit tighter. But he's fine. He's fitted in really well. He's desperate for some runs and to contribute, along with Ruturaj and the other senior players," Fleming added.

"But again, T20 can change quickly. We saw in the T20 World Cup what can happen, and when a batter gets on a run, he's one guy that can be very dominant. He's one guy that can be very dangerous. So there will be nothing but support and confidence from our side to Sanju as he forges his path in yellow," he concluded.

IPL: RCB hammer CSK in Bengaluru

Royal Challengers Bengaluru hammered Chennai Super Kings by 43 runs at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday, April 5. RCB posted 250 runs against the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side, the highest total of the season so far.

The total, however, did not fully reflect how well CSK bowled for the first 15 overs, during which they had the upper hand over the RCB batters.

But the bowlers failed to maintain their intensity in the final five overs, conceding 97 runs as Tim David and Rajat Patidar tore into the attack. Seamer Anshul Kamboj was taken apart by David after the batter survived a clean-bowled chance due to a no-ball.

Fleming later rued the moment, suggesting that it proved costly for CSK.

"It's about the execution under pressure. And against a hitter like Tim David, who is very destructive, you've got to be absolutely spot on. And once we sort of fell behind and he got his rhythm, and there was a no-ball in there as well, so let’s not forget that, there were probably 40 runs in there. So the really small margins - and with a good hitter like David, we've got to be more exact than that. So we missed where we needed to be, and we got hurt in the hardest of fashions," Fleming said.

Chennai Super Kings now have a five-day break before their next IPL 2026 fixture. They will take on Delhi Capitals on April 11 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, with Fleming hopeful of having middle-order batter Dewald Brevis back for the match.

- Ends