CSK vs GT IPL 2026: Chennai Super Kings star opener Sanju Samson has become the tenth batter and the eighth Indian overall to have smashed 5000 runs in this tournament. He has achieved this milestone during their IPL 2026 match against the Gujarat Titans at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium off 3555 balls and has become the fastest Indian batter to have achieved this feat.
Samson surpassed legendary CSK player Suresh Raina's tally off just 3260 balls, and besides them, KL Rahul (3888) and MS Dhoni (3691) are the other batters who have achieved this feat. AB de Villiers (3288) and David Warner (3554) are the only overseas players to have achieved this milestone of scoring 5000 runs while taking fewer balls.
Samson faced Mohammed Siraj during the first over. He faced five dot balls and then took a single on the sixth ball. During Kagiso Rabada's over, he missed a big cut on the first delivery, then smashed a four, and then achieved the milestone of scoring 5000 runs.
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Rabada then took his wicket by bowling a short, wide delivery during the fourth over. He got no foot movement and received a top-edge as Jos Buttler took an easy catch.
Samson is lying in seventh position on the list of taking the fewest balls to score 5000 runs and has surpassed cricketers like Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni, and Rohit Sharma.
Fastest players to 5,000 IPL runs, by innings
| Player | Innings to 5000 Runs | Date of Milestone | Total Matches | Career Runs | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KL Rahul | 130 | 22/04/2025 | 152 | 5579 | 46.88 |
| David Warner | 135 | 18/10/2020 | 184 | 6565 | 40.52 |
| Virat Kohli | 157 | 28/03/2019 | 274 | 8989 | 39.95 |
| AB de Villiers | 161 | 27/04/2021 | 184 | 5162 | 39.71 |
| Shikhar Dhawan | 168 | 20/10/2020 | 222 | 6769 | 35.26 |
| Suresh Raina | 173 | 23/03/2019 | 205 | 5528 | 32.52 |
| Sanju Samson | 181 | 26/04/2026 | 184 | 5008 | 31.50 |
| Ajinkya Rahane | 182 | 07/05/2025 | 205 | 5184 | 30.32 |
| Rohit Sharma | 187 | 01/10/2020 | 276 | 7183 | 29.93 |
| MS Dhoni | 208 | 03/04/2023 | 278 | 5439 | 38.30 |
Samson has been the Chennai-based franchise's highest run-scorer this year, and the franchise has become overly dependent on him. Ruturaj Gaikwad has been seen struggling, and since Ayush Mhatre has been ruled out, the host did send Sarfaraz Khan and Urvil Patel to bat at No. 3 and No. 4, but they couldn't bat well.