Top 5 Sanju Samson Innings In IPL

image-lqanv4gcSanju Samson in action during IPL 2023 against Gujarat Titans (BCCI)

Sanju Samson, a name etched in the vivid narrative of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has chronicled a compelling tale adorned with numerous flamboyant innings. Having made his IPL debut back in 2013, his journey spans across two different stints at Rajasthan Royals, and a brief spell at Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils).

Renowned for his aggressive yet elegant batting style, Samson remains a standout figure in the Rajasthan Royals camp even while shouldering the additional responsibility as their leader since 2021. His audacious stroke-play, be it against pace or spin, has paved way for some breathtaking batting exhibitions, underscoring his maturity and adaptability in a high-octane tournament like IPL.

Here at OneCricket, we take a look back at five of his best batting performances across his IPL journey, from making his debut in 2013 until the 2023 chapter of the competition.


Top 5 Sanju Samson Batting Performance in IPL:

1. 119 (63) vs Punjab Kings, Wankhede, IPL 2021

image-lqatglbgSanju Samson in full flow against PBKS in IPL 2021 (BCCI)

Up against Punjab Kings in their IPL 2021 opener at the Wankhede Stadium, Rajasthan Royals were tasked to chase down a monumental 222-run target to register their first points of the season. Losing both openers cheaply inside the powerplay did not help, as Sanju Samson at number three was left to lead his team’s run-scoring charge from the first over of the innings itself.

Taking no time to settle, the belligerent right-hander punched out 12 boundaries and seven sixes over the course of his 63-ball stay at the crease, as he formed rebellious run-chase stands with Jos Buttler, Shivam Dube and Riyan Parag in the middle overs. Samson ended up scorching Punjab’s high-flying pace arsenal, comprising of Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh, to register his career-best score of 119.

However, his magnum opus IPL knock was not enough to carry his side to victory, as his dismissal at the brink of the finishing line handed Punjab Kings a narrow last-ball win.

2. 102 (63) vs Rising Pune Supergiant, Pune, IPL 2017

image-lqathabqSanju Samson whacked five sixes in his 102-run knock (BCCI)

Turning up for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) against Rising Pune Supergiant in one of their earliest games of IPL 2017, Sanju Samson unleashed a sequence of eight boundaries and five sixes against the likes of Deepak Chahar, Ben Stokes, Imran Tahir and Adam Zampa at Pune’s high-scoring MCA venue.

The cricketer produced 102 runs from just 63 balls to register his maiden T20 ton, thus turbo-charging his side’s score to 205-4 by the end of their 20 overs. As it turned out, the total proved to be 97 runs better than the best run-chase efforts of Rising Pune Supergiant, thus allowing the then 22-year-old to be adjudged as ‘Player of the Match’ for his match-defining effort with the bat.

3. 85 (42) vs Punjab Kings, Sharjah, IPL 2020

image-lqau6eruSanju Samson in action against Punjab in IPL 2020 (BCCI)

Back during Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2020 fixture against Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) in Sharjah, Sanju Samson arrived to the crease within the third over of the innings while chasing a 223-run target. The cricketer faced 42 deliveries and dispatched four of them for boundaries and seven of them for towering sixes, and took a special liking to part-time Glenn Maxwell during the backend of his innings.

Samson’s 85-run assault in the game set up Rajasthan Royals’ successful run-chase in a last-over thriller, thus giving them their second successive win of the competition. He was also adjudged as ‘Player of the Match’ for his batting masterclass to overshadow rival centurion Mayank Agarwal and fellow Royals teammates Steve Smith and Rahul Tewatia.

4. 102* (55) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Hyderabad, IPL 2019

image-lqaugbodSanju Samson and Ben Stokes shared 64 runs together off 25 balls (BCCI)

Sanju Samson clattered a seasoned Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) attack at the latter’s home ground back in IPL 2019 with a sizzling 102*. The innings marked only his second IPL century, and his career-best T20 score at the time.

Batting at number three for Rajasthan Royals, Samson shared a 119-run second-wicket stand with then skipper Ajinkya Rahane, before becoming the aggressor in his subsequent 25-ball 64-run alliance with Ben Stokes. Showing no remorse against the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and IPL cult hero Sandeep Sharma, the Royals batting prodigy belted 10 boundaries and four sixes in his 55-ball innings.

Unfortunately for Samson, his destructive knock was tendered in vain by Hyderabad’s run-chase masterclass in the second half of the game.

5. 92* (45) vs RCB, Bengaluru, IPL 2018

image-lqauht2vSanju Samson in action against RCB in IPL 2018 (BCCI)

Sanju Samson was more than up to the challenge when Rajasthan Royals went up against a star-studded Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) unit in front of a buzzing Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru back in IPL 2018. The right-hander made his way to the crease at the brink of the opening powerplay after a 49-run blitz from captain Ajinkya Rahane and D’Arcy Short.

The cricketer remained unbeaten throughout the innings, launching 10 sixes and two boundaries over the course of his 45-ball knock to score 92*. His initial anchoring act coupled with his death-overs fury stormed Rajasthan Royals to a monumental 217-run total upfront. His efforts ended up in a match-winning cause, as Royals earned a 19-run triumph to secure their much-needed two-points.