RCB Defeats CSK by 43 Runs; Samson Scores 9

In Bengaluru, Sanju Samson continued his underwhelming start to the Indian Premier League 2026 season, scoring just 9 runs as Chennai Super Kings suffered a 43-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday. The loss marked CSK's third consecutive reverse, leaving the five-time champions winless and at the bottom of the points table.

Samson, who joined CSK from Rajasthan Royals in a high-profile trade ahead of the season, has aggregated only 22 runs from his first three outings at the top of the order: 6 against his former franchise, 7 versus Punjab Kings, and now 9 against RCB. His dismissal came early in the chase, edging a loose shot to slip off Jacob Duffy, leaving CSK at 30 for 3 after less than three overs while pursuing a daunting 251.

RCB's innings was propelled by Tim David's explosive 70 off 25 balls, including ruthless hitting in the death overs that saw the hosts accelerate to 250 for 3. Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar also contributed significantly, while CSK's bowlers struggled with lines and lengths in the final stages, conceding boundaries at crucial junctures. In response, CSK managed 207 for 10 in 19.4 overs, with Sarfaraz Khan...