Sanju Samson, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) wicketkeeper-batter, recently played beach cricket with local fans in Chennai, and the heartwarming video has taken social media by storm. The 31-year-old, who joined CSK from Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026, spent quality time with supporters, showing no superstar attitude as he batted left-handed and hit a big shot while mingling with the crowd.
Samson arrived without security and quickly blended in, sharing light-hearted moments that resonated with Chennai locals. The clip, posted on his Instagram account, quickly went viral, capturing the bond he has already built with the CSK fanbase.
In a recent interview on the Super Kings podcast, Samson opened up about the overwhelming support he received even before playing his first match for the franchise. “Right when the trade discussions were going on, like always the media picks it up and say Sanju might come to CSK. From that time I could feel some insane love for me. Whenever I came to Chennai or whenever a local guy is meeting me, he would say ‘hey Sanju, come to CSK,'” Samson said.
He added that the love and responsibility have made him a more cautious and determined player. “I was just telling in a meet and greet they were asking like what do you have to say about the fans of CSK, like when you’re playing in a match for them, you don’t feel like making a mistake. You think twice before playing a shot. That’s how responsible I have become after joining CSK.”
Samson has repaid the faith with his bat, emerging as CSK’s top run-scorer this season. In 11 matches, he has amassed 430 runs at an average of 53.75 and a strike rate of 169.29, including two centuries. This makes him the first Indian player and only the fourth overall to register multiple IPL centuries in the same season for CSK. With the playoffs race heating up, CSK will heavily rely on Samson to guide them through the crucial stages.