IPL 2026: 'Batting on a different level' Finch praises Samson for upturn in form

Sanju Samson (Pic: PTI)

Former Australian captain Aaron Finch praised Sanju Samson's match-winning performance for CSK against the Delhi Capitals, as the Indian star kept his side in a hunt for the play-off spot.

Samson's outstanding 87' off 52 balls, which featured seven fours and six sixes, earned him the title of Player of the Match. He helped CSK easily chase the 156-run mark in just 17.3 overs.

Speaking on ESPNcricinfo's TimeOut show, Finch reflected on the pressure faced by Samson since joining a high-profile franchise like CSK.

"He missed out the first couple of games, didn't he? All of a sudden, there was a massive panic about what CSK had done. They've got Sanju Samson, and he's not performing. Two games in T20 are nothing. To go right through a season ultra-consistent is so difficult." Finch said.

The right-handed batter moved from Rajasthan Royals (RR) to CSK for Rs 18 crore before last year's auction, while Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja joined RR for the 2026 campaign.

"You probably can't underestimate the pressure on somebody going into a team like CSK. Being a huge marquee signing, particularly when you have traded someone like Jadeja out of the side as well," Finch said.

The former Australian captain pointed out that despite Samson's impressive form in the latter stages of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, the transition to CSK was always going to be challenging.

"Although he [Samson] had a dream run at the end of the [T20] World Cup and then he's come in [at CSK] and missed out a couple of times, there will still be some pride and pressure," Finch said. "There's almost some feeling that you can tend to overplay it slightly in your own head that you want to get to a new franchise and really lay down a marker and say I'm here," Finch added.

Finch happy to see Samson back in form

Finch concluded by praising Samson for overcoming early challenges and delivering a performance that lived up to expectations.

"This is what you're traded for and the superstar that you've been crying out for. So, the fact that he's batting on a different level is great to see," Finch said.

After a win over the Delhi Capitals, the five-time champions CSK now sit sixth on the points table with five wins from 10 matches.

(With ANI Input)