Samson had a below par show in the first three IPL 2026 games, but he turned things around from the next match and is now the top scorer of the team. The wicketkeeper batter played an unbeaten knock of 87 runs and forged a match-winning 114-run partnership with youngster Kartik Sharma against DC, which helped CSK chase down the 156-run target in just 17.3 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSanju Samson is batting at his peak right now, and what stands out is his game awareness. He\u2019s very clear about which bowlers to target and which ones to respect. You could see that he was cautious against someone like Lungi Ngidi, but the moment a less threatening option came on, he shifted gears and capitalised. That understanding of match-ups is outstanding,\" Pathan told Jio Hotstar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The former all-rounder also lauded Samson's mindset of taking the responsibility and staying till the end to finish the game for the team.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"More importantly, he\u2019s taking responsibility to finish games, especially on tricky surfaces, and doing it consistently. That\u2019s what defines a batter in top form,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pathan also praised youngster Kartik's range of shots and his ability to read the spin variations and googlies easily.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"More importantly, he\u2019s taking responsibility to finish games, especially on tricky surfaces, and doing it consistently. That\u2019s what defines a batter in top form,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"He\u2019s shown that he can take on both spin and pace, and the confidence from his previous performances is clearly carrying through. Those shots over cover, particularly against quality spinners, show the kind of range he has, and that can have a big impact on his growth as a batter going forward,\" Pathan concluded.<\/p>\r\n\r\n