Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has shown his support for Chennai Super Kings opener Sanju Samson, predicting that he will perform well in the upcoming match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League 2026 on Sunday, April 5, at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Samson has only managed 13 runs in his first two innings with CSK. Pathan highlighted that the franchise brought him in as a future leader following MS Dhoni. He believes this role could begin if Samson performs well against RCB and expressed confidence that he will meet the challenge.
“Chennai sees Sanju Samson as a potential face of the team after MS Dhoni. He hasn’t scored runs yet, even on a batting-friendly pitch. The next match is in Bengaluru, where I expect him to score. If he does well, Chennai’s plan to make him the face of the team could start. I have a feeling he will shine in this match,” Pathan said on his YouTube channel.
Pathan also discussed Virat Kohli, the RCB opener, noting that he showcases agility that defies his age. He remarked that if Sanju Samson performs well, Kohli is likely to follow suit. Kohli had a strong start to the season, scoring an unbeaten 69 off 38 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
“Virat Kohli’s performance in the first match showed he doesn’t play like a 37-year-old. He is quick in the field and keeps scoring runs. He consistently performs, making everyone happy. As he faces Chennai again, he will bring the same energy. I believe if Sanju scores, Kohli won’t be far behind either. Expect to see him performing well again,” Pathan added.