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.

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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.