IPL: Decoding Samson's scores in RR's season openers since 2020
What's the story
Rajasthan Royals talisman Sanju Samson has maintained his record of scoring big in the first match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
In RR's IPL 2025 opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, he scored a brilliant half-century to add to the record.
Albeit in a losing cause, Samson opened the innings and scored 66 runs off 37 balls.
Here we decode his knocks in RR's first matches of every season since 2020.
2020
74 vs CSK, 2020
Samson scored 74 runs from 32 balls against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in RR's IPL 2020 opener in Sharjah.
The dasher, who arrived at number three, was all over the CSK bowlers right from the beginning.
He hence raced to his fifty off just 19 balls.
Samson's blistering knock was laced with nine sixes and a solitary four as RR finished at 216/7.
CSK were restricted to 200/6 in response.
2021
119 vs PBKS, 2021
In IPL 2021, Samson bettered himself with a mind-boggling 119 runs from just 63 balls against Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
He certainly played a captain's knock as RR needed to chase down 222. Samson tormented the PBKS bowlers, having smashed 12 fours and seven sixes.
Despite his efforts, the Kings prevailed by four runs.
2022
55 vs SRH, 2022
In RR's IPL 2022 opener, Samson scored a commendable 55 runs off just 27 balls against SRH at Pune's MCA Stadium.
The Royals skipper kept the scoring rate up as he smoked three fours and five maximums during his stay.
His brilliance helped the Men in Pink finish at 210/6 while batting first. SRH could only manage 149/7 in response.
2023
55 vs SRH, 2023
The trend continued with Samson scoring 55 runs off 32 balls against SRH in Hyderabad in the IPL 2023 opener.
He came to the crease at 85/1 and added 54 crucial runs with Yashasvi Jaiswal, taking the score beyond the 130-run mark.
Samson's decisive knock, which saw him smoke four sixes and three boundaries, helped the visitors post 203/5 in the first innings.
SRH could only manage 131/8 in reply.
2024
82* vs LSG, 2024
In RR's 2024 opener, Samson scored an unbeaten 82* from 52 balls against Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur.
He added 93 runs along with Riyan Parag after RR were reduced to 49/2.
The RR skipper's knock was laced with three fours and six sixes as the Royals, who elected to bat, compiled 193/4 in their 20 overs.
Samson's team went on to win by 20 runs.
2025
66 vs SRH, 2025
Chasing a mammoth 287 in the recent game in Hyderabad, RR lost three wickets in the powerplay.
Despite a shaky start, the Men in Pink fought back as Samson and Dhruv Jurel stitched 111 runs.
The former's 66 from 37 balls had 4 sixes and 7 fours.
However, his efforts went in vain as the match concluded with SRH winning by 44 runs.