Shashi Tharoor wrote a poem for Sanju Samson after CSK's win over MI (PTI Photos)

A poem for Sanju Samson: Shashi Tharoor celebrates CSK star's century vs MI in verse

MI vs CSK, IPL 2026: Shashi Tharoor, a long-time admirer of Sanju Samson, penned a poem after the Chennai Super Kings batter's match-winning hundred against Mumbai Indians on Thursday.

24 Apr 2026, 04:12 by Akshay Ramesh · India Today

In Short

Sanju Samson hit an unbeaten 101 in just 54 balls against Mumbai Indians
He batted through the innings, hitting six sixes in a calculated knock
Shashi Tharoor took to X to share his poem for the new CSK superstar

After Chennai Super Kings' clinical victory over the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, the most resonant tribute to Sanju Samson's match-winning century came not from the commentary box, but from the literary world. Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament and a long-standing advocate for the Kerala-born wicketkeeper-batter, took to social media to celebrate the milestone with a specially composed poem.

MI vs CSK: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD

Tharoor's relationship with Samson's career has been one of steadfast loyalty. Over the years, the celebrated politician has frequently voiced his support during Samson's intermittent spells with the national side, often serving as a vocal critic of the consistency narrative that has trailed the batter. Following Samson's commanding performance in Mumbai, Tharoor moved beyond prose to capture the aesthetic appeal of the knock.

The tribute was crafted in a classic lyric style, utilising AABB rhyming couplets to mirror the rhythmic, balanced nature of Samson's batting. The structure-where the first line rhymes with the second, and the third with the fourth – provides a melodic pace that reflects the effortless flight Tharoor describes in his verses.

It was Samson's second century for CSK in IPL 2026 as the new wicketkeeper-batter, traded from Rajasthan Royals, has made an instant impact for the Super Kings. He became only the second CSK batter after Shane Watson in 2018 to hit two hundreds in an IPL season.

The poem is reproduced in full below:

Screengrab from X

The poem is certainly an ode to the technical purity that has defined Samson's 2026 season, particularly his ability to maintain stylish command without resorting to slogging.

Sanju Samson's unbeaten 101 off 54 balls was the cornerstone of Chennai Super Kings' authoritative performance against the Mumbai Indians. Entering the fray early, Samson anchored the innings with a blend of traditional stroke-play and modern power-hitting, striking 10 boundaries and six maximums to propel CSK to a formidable total.

It was Samson's game awareness that stood out. Taking on the onus of batting through 20 overs, Samson held one end even when wickets were falling at the other. In the death overs, Samson ensured he did not take risks against Jasprit Bumrah, Mumbai Indians' lead pacer and went after rookie Krish Bhagat in the last over, plundering 15 runs and pushing the total beyond 200.

The chase proved disastrous for Mumbai.

Despite the hosts' attempt to bolster their line-up with a controversial concussion substitute, they were blindsided by CSK's tactical masterstroke: the introduction of Akeal Hosein as an Impact Player. Hosein's left-arm spin decimated the MI top order, reducing them to 11 for 3 within the powerplay. He finished with remarkable figures of 4 for 17, as Mumbai collapsed for 104, handing CSK a comprehensive victory in the season's most anticipated rivalry.

- Ends