IPL 2026: In IPL 2026 “El Clasico” between two five-time champions, Chennai Super Kings delivered a statement victory as they thrashed Mumbai Indians by a massive 103 runs at the Wankhede Stadium, thanks to a match-defining unbeaten knock from Sanju Samson, who scored 101 off just 54 balls to power CSK to 207/6 after MI captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and invited the visitors to bat first.
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In reply, the hosts side collapsed at 104 in 19 overs, suffering their biggest defeat in IPL history in terms of runs. Samson was the undisputed star of the evening. Coming off a strong T20 World Cup campaign, the right-hander held the CSK innings together amid regular wickets at the other end.
Sanju Samson became the first CSK batter to scored a hundred vs MI
Samson brought up his half-century in just 26 balls and accelerated brilliantly in the death overs, reaching his century with a boundary off the final delivery of the innings. His knock included 10 fours and 6 sixes at a impressive strike rate of nearly 187. This was Samson’s fifth IPL century overall and his second for CSK in just four innings since joining the franchise. Notably, it also marked the first time a CSK batter scored a hundred against Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
The rest of the CSK batting lineup failed to find rhythm on a pitch that offered some assistance to bowlers early on. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad managed only 22, while Dewald Brevis contributed a quickfire 21 with a couple of sixes.
For Mumbai Indians, AM Ghazanfar and Ashwani Kumar led the bowling attack, who claimed two wickets each for 25 and 37 runs respectively. Jasprit Bumrah, as usual, was economical with figures of 1/31 in his four overs, but the lack of support from the rest of the attack allowed CSK to post a daunting total.
Eight MI players failed to reach double digits
The chase of 208 never looked competitive as MI’s batting lineup collapsed against CSK’s spin duo of Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmed. West Indies left-arm spinner Hosein wreaked havoc as he finished with impressive figures of 4/17. His variations and accuracy in the middle overs dismantled the MI top and middle order.
Afghanistan wrist-spinner Noor Ahmed complemented him perfectly, returning with figures of 2/23. Tilak Varma top-scored for MI with a fighting 37, while Suryakumar Yadav managed 35. These were the only notable contributions, while rest of the scorecard looks like a horror story – eight players failed to reach double digits. The home crowd at Wankhede was stunned into silence as wickets tumbled at regular intervals.