Mumbai: Sanju Samson produced a stunning wicketkeeping moment reminiscent of MS Dhoni during Chennai Super Kings’ clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Monday. The dramatic moment came when Samson brilliantly stumped Heinrich Klaasen to provide CSK with a much-needed breakthrough. Klaasen and Ishan Kishan had put the visitors in a commanding position with a crucial 75-run partnership for the third wicket on a slow Chepauk pitch. Both batters initially took time to settle before accelerating and finding boundaries regularly, leaving CSK under immense pressure. With options running thin, spinner Noor Ahmad delivered a turning point in the 15th over. Switching to an over-the-wicket angle, Noor bowled a sharp googly that spun away from Klaasen. The South African batter was beaten completely, and as his back foot lifted momentarily, Samson reacted instantly behind the stumps.
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Displaying lightning-fast reflexes similar to Dhoni’s trademark wicketkeeping dismissals, Samson whipped off the bails in a flash to send Klaasen back for 47. Adding to the nostalgia, Samson celebrated with a leap that reminded fans of Dhoni’s iconic celebrations, sparking excitement across social media. The dismissal, however, was followed by a brief verbal exchange between Klaasen and Samson. The South African batter appeared to say a few words while walking off, and Samson responded immediately as tensions rose for a moment. Shivam Dube quickly stepped in to calm the situation and encouraged Klaasen to continue towards the pavilion. The on-field umpire also spoke with Samson, who was seen explaining that he was not responsible for escalating the exchange.
Although Klaasen’s wicket triggered a couple of quick dismissals, Kishan continued to anchor the chase brilliantly. The left-hander played a composed knock of 70 off 47 balls and struck several important boundaries before eventually falling in the 19th over to Anshul Kamboj. By then, however, the match had slipped away from CSK. Sunrisers Hyderabad comfortably completed the chase with five wickets in hand and six balls remaining, dealing another major setback to Chennai’s playoff hopes.
