Sanju Samson etched his name in IPL history by becoming the fastest Indian to reach 5000 runs by balls faced, surpassing Suresh Raina’s long-standing record.
He achieved the milestone in 3555 balls over 180 innings, ranking third overall behind AB de Villiers and David Warner.
Despite scoring only 11 runs off 15 balls against the Gujarat Titans at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, Samson’s achievement stood out. The Chennai Super Kings star reached the landmark during his brief stay at the crease, continuing his remarkable run in the 2026 season.
Samson’s strike rate of 140.59 places him among the most aggressive Indian batsmen in IPL history. He became only the second player, after AB de Villiers, to score over 5000 runs with a strike rate above 140, highlighting his consistency and attacking flair.
The wicketkeeper-batsman began his IPL journey with Rajasthan Royals in 2013, later representing Delhi Capitals before joining Chennai Super Kings. He has already scored two centuries in just seven matches for his new franchise.
Samson’s record-breaking feat underscores his evolution from a promising youngster to one of the most explosive Indian players in the league. His achievement adds another chapter to IPL’s rich legacy of batting excellence.
