Sanju Samson has fallen victim to the new ball on an ongoing basis due to multiple repeated instances of technical failure throughout the course of each individual match.
As Sanju Samson begins his tenure as part of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) during the 2026 season, thus far he has not met expectations on account of his lack of production since being traded over from Rajasthan Royals to CSK with respect to success as an opener in their batting order having yet to achieve anything meaningful from an offensive standpoint during his first three innings played as an opener.
His first three games this season resulted in 6 runs off 7 balls, 7 runs from 7 balls, and 9 runs off 5 balls. There are clear similarities in terms of how he has been dismissed thus far this year across all instances, regardless of which bowler was bowling to him, indicating that there is some type of mechanical error present.
Within Sanju’s technique, which is causing consistent failure regardless of conditions or bowlers faced, this theory is supported by an analysis of statistics and circumstances associated with each of these events.
5 Major Reasons Why Sanju Samson is Struggling for CSK in IPL 2026
1. Footwork Errors Exposed in Every Match
A review of all three innings reveals that Samson’s footwork has been consistently unstable. Against the Rajasthan Royals, facing Nandre Burger, he failed to get in line with the delivery; attempting a cross-batted shot, he missed the ball completely and was bowled.
Against the Punjab Kings, his balance was once again off; attempting to drive an out-swinger while rooted to the crease, he ended up edging the ball. Against Bengaluru, facing Jacob Duffy, his feet remained static as he played the shot solely with his hands an error that resulted in him being caught in the slips.
2. Repeatedly Falling into the Off-Stump Trap
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A common pattern observed across all three matches is that bowlers targeted the channel just outside or right on the off-stump line, and Samson appeared to fall into this very trap on every occasion.
Against Punjab, Xavier Bartlett bowled a series of deliveries that moved away from the batsman; Samson stepped forward to play a drive but failed to account for the lateral movement. Similarly, against Bengaluru, Duffy created an angle to hold the ball outside the off-stump Samson attempted a shot without proper control, resulting in a thick outside edge.
3. Haste in Shot Selection
The biggest change we have seen from Samson’s batting, is the difference in shot selection. He has played aggressively from the first ball in every match but has been unable to modify his technique based on who is bowled to him.
Against Punjab, even after being beaten by a delivery, he attempted to play the exact same drive on the very next ball—only to get dismissed. Against Bengaluru as well, he persisted in attempting big shots before he had even settled in at the crease, thereby handing the bowlers an opportunity to dismiss him.
4. Bowlers Adopt a Consistent Strategy
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Opposing teams have quickly formulated a clear strategy against Samson. They are consistently bowling deliveries that move slightly away from the batsman, pitching just outside the off-stump.
Burger outsmarted him in a seaming contest vs. Rajasthan, Bartlett lured him into playing a drive in the air on a wide ball vs. Punjab, and Duffy got the same result using the angle of the bowl from the wicket vs. Bengaluru. Regardless of which bowler he faced, his pattern of getting out has been remarkably similar, indicating a major technical vulnerability.
5. The Difficulty of Getting Used To A Completely Different Environment And Working With A Different Group Of People
It’s difficult to blame him for not living up to expectations after such an amazing showing at the T20 World Cup but the pressure of adjusting to playing in Front of A New Team (After making the move from having played with Another Team) has clearly been a very big adjustment for him already too quickly.
Amidst a new team, a new dressing room, a new opening partnership, and varying pitch conditions, he has not yet appeared entirely at ease. This is precisely why, instead of playing his natural game, he is making hasty decisions—a factor that is adversely impacting his performance.
Sanju Samson’s lackluster performance in IPL 2026 reveals a distinct pattern, wherein the combined impact of technical flaws, poor shot selection, and the strategic execution of opposing teams is clearly visible.
If he is to make a comeback, he must work on his weakness in the off-stump channel and show patience early on; only then will he be able to prove himself a match-winner for the Chennai Super Kings.
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