IPL 2026: Aaron Finch heaps praise on CSK`s Sanju Samson

Former Australian captain Aaron Finch praised Sanju Samson`s match-winning performance for CSK against the Delhi Capitals, as the Indian star kept his side in a hunt for the play-off spot.

Samson`s outstanding 87* off 52 balls, which featured seven fours and six sixes, earned him the title of Player of the Match. He helped CSK easily chase the 156-run mark in just 17.3 overs.

Speaking on ESPNcricinfo`s TimeOut show, Finch reflected on the pressure faced by Samson since joining a high-profile franchise like CSK.

"He missed out the first couple of games, didn`t he? All of a sudden, there was a massive panic about what CSK had done. They`ve got Sanju Samson, and he`s not performing. Two games in T20 are nothing. To go right through a season ultra-consistent is so difficult." Finch said.

The right-handed batter moved from Rajasthan Royals (RR) to CSK for Rs 18 crore before last year`s auction, while Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja joined RR for the 2026 campaign.

"You probably can`t underestimate the pressure on somebody going into a team like CSK. Being a huge marquee signing, particularly when you have traded someone like Jadeja out of the side as well," Finch said.

The former Australian captain pointed out that despite Samson`s impressive form in the latter stages of the ICC Men`s T20 World Cup, the transition to CSK was always going to be challenging.

"Although he [Samson] had a dream run at the end of the [T20] World Cup and then he`s come in [at CSK] and missed out a couple of times, there will still be some pride and pressure," Finch said. "There`s almost some feeling that you can tend to overplay it slightly in your own head that you want to get to a new franchise and really lay down a marker and say I`m here," Finch added.

Finch happy to see Samson back in form

Finch concluded by praising Samson for overcoming early challenges and delivering a performance that lived up to expectations.

"This is what you`re traded for and the superstar that you`ve been crying out for. So, the fact that he`s batting on a different level is great to see," Finch said.

After a win over the Delhi Capitals, the five-time champions CSK now sit sixth on the points table with five wins from 10 matches.

(With ANI Input)