The Technical Audit: Why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Bat-Swing Faces a Structural Test in Manchester
A Rajasthan Royals teammate casts doubt on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's style ahead of the Manchester T20I. Inside the technical analysis of his bat-swing.
I've witnessed many memorable matches at Wankhede Stadium, however the performance Sanju Samson produced on April 23rd 2026 is a masterpiece in contemporary T20 hitting. It is well-known that moving to a brand new franchise can be a difficult one for anyone, but Samson, the "new CSK boy" has made it appear as if it was a stroll in park. After slamming an incredible unbeaten 101 off 54 ball in the match against Mumbai Indians, Sanju Samson has officially put his name in history of the books. The evolution of his game can be seen in his role as a batter. He's gone from being a flashy stroke-maker an impressive finisher that can hold the entire inning.
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The Milestone: Joining the Mult-Century Club
In this stunning knock, Sanju Samson became the only ninth batsman of Indian Premier League history to hit more than one century in the same season. I was able to observe that his very first ton in the IPL in 2026 was earlier in the game with the Delhi Capitals at Chepauk and his second triple-digit mark has pushed his name into a prestigious group of cricketers.
This list is full of absolute legends of the sport, such as Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and Jos Buttler. Sanju Samson is also the very first Indian athlete to do this feat representing the Chennai Super Kings beating the records of a single season of the other legends of franchises.
Centuries in IPL 2026: 2 (vs Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians)
100 IPL Centuries Total: 5 (Joint 2nd most overall, with KL Rahul)
The impact of the match His 101* boosted CSK to a record 707/6 score in the high-stakes battle against MI.
Professional Analysis: The Tactical Brilliance of Samson 2.0
I believe it's important to study the changes his role in the batting department in the present season. At CSK, Sanju Samson has embraced the responsibility of the "anchor-accelerator." When he played in the match against MI the wickets were falling in the opposite direction and he did not allowed his strike rate to dip. The video below shows how he skillfully dealt with Jasprit Bumrah, using a low-risk high-reward approach that enabled him to take out the remainder of the attacking.
From a strategic perspective the fact that he was able to remain until the 20th inning--having completed 100 on the final ball, with an unintentional boundary from Krish Bhagat--has been instrumental in giving CSK the mental edge that they were lacking in the earlier seasons. I believe that his improved regularity is the result of having a more focused mental attitude that focuses more on "playing the situation" rather instead of "playing the shot."
The Elite: Batters who have multiple Centuries in a Single IPL Season
I've put together the entire listing of the players who been able to rack up two or more centuries within the same IPL edition, so that you could look up the legendary team Sanju Samson now keeps.
| Player Name | Team | Season | No. of Centuries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | RCB | 2016 | 4 |
| Jos Buttler | RR | 2022 | 4 |
| Shubman Gill | GT | 2023 | 3 |
| Chris Gayle | RCB | 2011 | 2 |
| Hashim Amla | PBKS | 2017 | 2 |
| Shane Watson | CSK | 2018 | 2 |
| Shikhar Dhawan | DC | 2020 | 2 |
| KL Rahul | LSG | 2022 | 2 |
| Virat Kohli | RCB | 2023 | 2 |
| Sanju Samson | CSK | 2026 | 2 |
Breaking Records and Chasing Legends
We know that the record for most years in one season is jointly held by Virat Kohli (2016) and Jos Buttler (2022) Both of them achieved four tons. Although Sanju Samson remains a ways from this "God-tier" performance, his present form indicates that he's not done even yet. I noticed that he's been able to climb up to second in the ranking of Indians who have the highest T20 century total and is now second only to Rohit Sharma with eight career tons.
Most IPL Centuries (All Time): Virat Kohli (8), Jos Buttler (7), Chris Gayle (6).
CSK Rivalry Record Samson's score of 101* score is the top score of CSK batters. CSK batter in a match against MI and MI, surpassing Ruturaj Gaikwad's previous mark score of 88.
It is my belief that this match will be remembered for the moment Sanju Samson changed from being the status of a "talented player" to a "dependable superstar." There is a sense of determination in his step when he assumes the responsibilities that is the CSK batsmen. While the season is in its peak, the concern isn't only about the number of more runs will he achieve, but rather what record will follow in his footsteps. It is a fact that, in the event that Samson is in this sort of mood, there is no limit that can be too big and there is no bowler who can be safe.
