Sanju Samson eclipses MS Dhoni, KL Rahul in record-breaking dash to fastest 5000 IPL runs by an Indian

All Sanju Samson needed was three runs to reach the milestone, and he got to the mark in the second over of the innings when he smashed a boundary

Updated on: Apr 26, 2026, 15:58:49 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Chennai Super Kings batter Sanju Samson scripted another major record in the Indian Premier League (IPL) during the match against Gujarat Titans on Sunday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Samson became the fastest Indian batter to 5000 runs in the IPL.

Chennai Super Kings' Sanju Samson celebrates after scoring a hundred against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. (HT_PRINT)

All Samson needed was three runs to reach the milestone, and he got to the mark in the second over of the innings when he smashed a widish delivery from Kagiso Rabada through point for a boundary.

He became the 10th batter in history to reach the milestone of 5000 runs in the IPL and the eighth overall. Having taken just 3555 to bring up his 5000 runs in the league, Samson became the third-fastest batter in the IPL to the milestone after AB de Villiers (3288 balls) and David Warner (3554 balls). He also became the quickest to the mark among Indian batters, beating Suresh Raina (3620 balls), KL Rahul (3688 balls) and MS Dhoni (3691 balls).

CSK vs GT LIVE Score, IPL 2026

Samson's innings, however, did not last long against the Gujarat Titans, as he was dismissed by Rabada in the fourth over. Another outside-off delivery and Samson stayed leg-side and looked to slash it through the off-side, but all he managed was an outside edge. Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler took an easy catch as Samson departed for just 11 off 15.

The knock came just days after he smashed a century against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede. It was his second century in the season, having earlier scored 115 not out against the Delhi Capitals in Chennai on April 11. This was also the first time that Samson scored two centuries in a single season, and it took his career T20 tally to eight tons - the second-most by an Indian batter after Virat Kohli and Abhishek Sharma, both of whom have nine centuries to their name.

Samson has scored 298 runs this season in eight matches for CSK, at 59.60 and a strike rate of 172.2.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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