India, April 23 -- At the same Wankhede Stadium where he scored 89 against England in the T20 World Cup semi-final, Sanju Samson went one better in what was his first 'El Clasico' appearance. Samson anchored the Chennai Super Kings innings on Thursday, scoring an unbeaten 101 off 54 balls to power the visitors to 207 for 6 in 20 overs.

It wasn't the kind of start Samson expected in CSK colours. Billed as a long-term successor to MS Dhoni, a role Chennai has been searching to fill, the India wicketkeeper-batter failed to carry his T20 World Cup form into the IPL, managing just 22 runs in his first three innings.

Samson admitted to feeling the pressure that came with a franchise pushing hard to secure him. With the added weight of expecta...