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CSK vs PBKS: Ruturaj Gaikwad hopes opening combo with Sanju Samson clicks

โ€ขYahoo Sports

Sanju Samson, fresh off a Player of the Tournament World Cup win, returns to Chepauk aiming to replicate his India success. Despite a modest CSK debut, he anticipates the Chennai crowd's fervent support to ignite his campaign. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad lauded Samson's experience and calibre, expressing delight at his inclusion and anticipating strong partnerships.

CHENNAI: Just over a month ago, Sanju Samson returned to the India squad against Zimbabwe in the World Cup Super-8 stage and struck a brisk 24 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here. He followed it up with three match-winning knocks in successive games, eventually being named โ€˜Player of the Tournamentโ€™ as India lifted the World Cup. Come Friday, the wicketkeeper-batter will be back at Chepauk, in yellow.

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! His CSK debut yielded only six runs, but he will be eager to find the same push he received during that India-Zimbabwe clash, when the Chepauk crowd lifted him with deafening support.

Against Punjab Kings, Samson will look to ride that energy again and spark his campaign to life. His opening partner and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad was quick to heap praise on the 31-year-old from Kerala. โ€œI congratulated him on his first boundary for yellow.

Being a south boy, I knew he would always be welcomed here. And I am more delighted to have him in my squad. (He is) A player with a lot of experience, a lot of calibre and definitely someone who I can always go up to.