‘Two innings don’t define him’: Fleming backs Sanju Samson amid CSK struggles
Despite Sanju Samson's sluggish start for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026, coach Stephen Fleming remains confident, highlighting the batter's proven match-winning ability and good form in training. Samson's early scores of 6 and 7 have raised eyebrows, especially given his stellar T20 World Cup performance. Fleming urged patience, emphasizing that two innings don't define a player's concern.
Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming has thrown his support behind opening batter Sanju Samson, even as the latter’s start to life with the franchise has come under early scrutiny in IPL 2026. Samson’s high-profile move from Rajasthan Royals ahead of the season carried significant expectations, particularly with CSK looking to bounce back after finishing at the bottom of the table last year. The wicketkeeper-batter also arrived on the back of a stellar run, having been named Player of the Tournament in India’s victorious 2026 T20 World Cup campaign.
However, his returns so far have been underwhelming. Samson has managed scores of just 6 and 7 in his first two appearances for CSK, including a low return against his former team Rajasthan Royals and another modest outing at Chepauk against Punjab Kings. Despite the slow start, Fleming dismissed concerns over Samson’s form and urged patience.
“He is not going to score every time. It's T20 cricket, and he just nicked one today. But he is in good form.
He is training well. And when he gets going, he is often a match-winner. So, two innings don't define an area of concern,” Fleming told reporters after the match.