Injury scare for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their must-win IPL 2026 clash against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad sparked immediate concern as wicketkeeper Sanju Samson (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/player-profile/sanju-samson/61837) was forced to leave the field mid-match after sustaining a finger injury during a crucial over. Samson’s injury occurred in just the second over of the innings, where Spencer Johnson delivered a well-down leg side ball. Johnson’s strike led to a full-length dive, but the ball changed direction, resulting in five wides—a boundary plus an extra run for the wide. Samson received immediate physio treatment before opting to walk off, leaving him as a substitute behind the stumps. Earlier, CSK made two changes to their playing XI, introducing Matt Short and Gurjapneet Singh, while GT added Prasidh Krishna to replace Sai Kishore. Both teams faced tight matches, with CSK aiming to secure a top-two finish and GT seeking a win over the strong opposition. Meanwhile, CSK remains sixth on the table with 12 points from 13 matches, nearly out of the playoff race. The teams: CSK includes Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Matt Short, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Spencer Johnson, Mukesh Choudhary, Gurjapneet Singh. GT features Shubman Gill (c), B Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Arshad Khan, Mohammed Siraj. The incident highlights critical moments in cricket, emphasizing the importance of injury recovery and strategic adjustments in high-stakes matches.
