Star opener Virat Kohli showed visible sadness for wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Kohli’s reaction to Samson’s dismissal quickly went viral across social media platforms.
Chennai Super Kings suffered a 43-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday, April 5. Samson registered another single-digit score, continuing his poor start to the 2026 season. CSK failed to chase the big target set by Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Watch: Virat Kohli Saddened for Sanju Samson in RCB vs CSK IPL 2026 Clash
Jacob Duffy bowled a length delivery angling across the right-hander. Sanju Samson attempted a drive, but his feet did not move. He got a thick edge, and Devdutt Padikkal took a sharp catch at first slip. The wicketkeeper-batter scored just nine runs off five balls.
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After the dismissal, the broadcast cameras showed Virat Kohli looking saddened by Samson’s departure. Samson has now recorded three consecutive single-digit scores in the ongoing tournament after his high-profile trade from Rajasthan Royals (RR).
Watch the video of the same posted by a user on Instagram below:
Kohli scored 28 runs off 18 balls, including two fours and one six. Royal Challengers Bengaluru set Chennai Super Kings a massive 251-run target. They then bowled out Chennai Super Kings for 207 runs to register an emphatic victory.
Fans Baffled By Sanju Samson’s Form In IPL 2026
Sanju Samson joined Chennai Super Kings for ???18 crore ahead of the 2026 season. The Super Kings traded Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to the Rajasthan Royals. Samson scored six runs against the Royals and seven runs against Punjab Kings (PBKS).
The Kerala-born cricketer played 149 matches for Rajasthan Royals, scoring 4,027 runs at an average of 31.70. He was the first player to score 4,000 runs for the Rajasthan franchise.
Overall, Samson has scored 4,726 runs in 180 matches at a strike rate of 138.91, including 29 fifties and three centuries. During the T20 World Cup, he scored 321 runs in five innings in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 win. He was named Player of the Tournament.
Sanju Samson’s Poor Form Adds To CSK’s Struggles In IPL 2026
Poor top-order performances from Sanju Samson have contributed to Chennai Super Kings losing three consecutive matches. The team had also finished at the bottom of the table in the 2025 season. They are currently in tenth place without any points.
Chennai Super Kings will next face Delhi Capitals on April 11 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. They need a strong performance from Samson to justify their massive investment.
MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis, who missed the first three matches due to injuries, are in contention for selection in the upcoming game. Ruturaj Gaikwad has been under pressure following disappointing team performances under his captaincy.
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