By Nick Bartlett, SuperWest Sports
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James Milner reflects on Jurgen Klopp, small shinpads and whether he really is boring
Kelly Somers: Well, James… good to see you. I always start these interviews by going back to the very beginning. What would a young James Milner have made of what you have achieved – becoming the Premier League all-time record appearance holder?
James Milner: Yeah, I think it’s hard to say. I suppose when you’re that age, you’re just trying to get in the first team, first and foremost… get in and around there and stay in there, and then: ‘What’s the next thing?’ It’s always ‘what’s the next achievement?’ and ‘never rest on your laurels’ sort of thing really. So, yeah, I definitely wouldn’t be thinking too far ahead – never mind 20-odd years ahead and thinking I’d still be playing.
Kelly: Has it all been quite surreal because there’s been so much understandable hype around it… you getting to the record… when you were going to break it and the fact that you have. Has it been quite weird?
Milner: For me, yeah, I’ve obviously been asked about it a lot…
Kelly: Sorry to add to that list of people asking…
James: No, no… it is obviously a nice thing in terms of people acknowledging that it’s a big number. It’s a lot of games, but I’ve just been concentrating on doing my job for Brighton really, and if I hit the number then great. It wasn’t something that I’m like: ‘Ah, I need to do this’. Everyone else asked lots of questions about it and I think the narrative around it then is like, that’s the only reason why I’m still playing, sort of thing. If you spoke to me, or anyone who knows me, I just want to contribute to my team and keep pushing and helping the club here.
There’s been some really nice tributes and stuff like that. Messages I’ve had obviously, which is… I don’t want to downplay those and sort of seem like it doesn’t matter or anything because obviously it’s so nice and some of the things people have said is fantastic… but, for me, individual stuff is something maybe you look at when you’ve finished. For me, it’s always about the team and just doing your job, and hopefully I can keep doing that.
Kelly: What is your first football memory then?
James: First football memory would be Leeds United winning the First Division title [in 1991-92] and my dad picking me up in the lounge and throwing me round and saying: ‘Enjoy it – it might never happen again in your lifetime.’ I would have been five at that point.
Kelly: Oh really? So, at that point you knew it was Leeds for life?
James: Yeah, that was the first memory and then we started going to games and stuff after that. I had a season ticket and, yeah, it went from there.
Kelly: What about kicking a ball? Were you kicking it then? Were you showing an interest?
James: Yeah, I mean maybe. I can’t remember much of it. I remember playing my first ever game for the local team. It was Westbrook Juniors and we lost 16-2 and it was like full-size pitch, full-size goals. You’ve got to bounce back from that score!
Kelly: I love that that’s stuck with you – the actual scoreline… exactly how many you conceded.
James: Yeah, it has. I played a season there and then that team stopped and then the next team I played for was under-12s – I think I was nine. And then I got scouted for Leeds.
Kelly: Which I imagine was the dream, wasn’t it… from your dad lifting you up?
James: Yeah, it was weird really because until that point as a kid, I’d never really thought about being a footballer. Obviously, you love football and I was playing football, but it never crossed my mind that I could actually do it myself. Yeah, for whatever reason… I mean, you’re nine years old and you’re just being a kid really. So, that was the first time and then going and putting the Leeds training kit on and having a trial and… obviously that was special as a Leeds fan and that was the dream then.
Kelly: Can you remember your first training session at Leeds?
James: I remember my first training session with the reserves. David Batty was one side of me and someone else was on the other and I was like, ‘Oh my God’… like, it’s Batts… legend! And getting over that and then pretty quick, I got sent over to the first team.
I don’t know if someone got sent in or if they needed a number and it was like: ‘Go try him with the first team.’ You don’t have time to think about it when you get involved. I just remember the speed of it. It was like, ‘wow, this is ridiculous’.
I remember, like, ‘welcome to the first team, kid’ sort of thing. You get tested, you get shouted at if you give the ball away. I remember breaking my nose actually in training. I got a pretty strong tackle from one of the younger players in the first team. I was 16, he was maybe 20. I got kicked in the face on the floor and broke my nose and… that was one of the early days.
You’ve got to toughen up and get on with it, but you know, the senior boys were great… [Danny] Mills and Gary Kelly and Mark Viduka. Alan Smith was, you know, the one I looked up to. He was the guy who’d come through the academy and scored with his first touch at Anfield and done what we all wanted to do.
Leeds‘ academy had been so great over the years, you know… Harry Kewell and [Jonathan] Woodgate, Paul Robinson, Alan Smith… the list goes on.
Looking back now, at 16, having just done my GCSEs and being with the first team, it’s like, ‘phew’ but at the time, you’re just focused and trying to prove that you belong there.
Kelly: 2002 was quite a big year for you wasn’t it really, with everything? Was it first Premier League goal, Premier League appearance… and you were so young.
James: Yeah, I look back now and you think how young you were. Three, four months before, I’d been doing my GCSEs and my mates were still in sixth form and coming to watch at Elland Road.
Kelly: Can you remember your first goal?
James: Yeah. I think I’d come on early for Harry Kewell maybe. Jason Wilcox whipped it over and I got it at the front post. And then we played two days later at Elland Road – 26th, 28th we played – and, you know, came on early again – someone else got injured – and was lucky enough to score again.
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“You Will Come For 7 Matches, Take Rs 1 Crore And Leave”: IPL 2026 Overseas Stars Raise Eyebrows For Missing Start
The IPL 2026 is set to begin in a week’s time, but several teams are grappling with injuries to their star players. The overseas contingent seems to be the most affected. SunRisers will miss the services of their regular captain Pat Cummins and have named Ishan Kishan as their skipper. Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Josh Hazlewood is also going to miss the start of the tournament due to injury. Now, even Delhi Capital’s Mitchell Starc will not be available for the start of IPL 2026.
Former India and KKR star Aakash Chopra wondered what Cricket Australia is doing by stopping Starc.
“If Mitchell Starc is also not going to come at the start, what is Cricket Australia doing? You didn’t let Josh Hazlewood come, Pat Cummins isn’t coming, and now you have held back Mitchell Starc, even though he is absolutely fit. He has already said goodbye to T20Is. So what has he done in the last two months or so?” Chopra said.
“He hasn’t played any cricket after the Ashes, but despite that, you have asked him to rest because a big Test season is coming up, in which there are five Test matches against India. That’s just before the next IPL. Why are you doing that now?”
He also asked IPL franchises to take note of how overseas players were being handled.
Chopra further raised the issue of Lockie Ferguson, who will reportedly miss the start of the IPL as he will be spending time with his family.
“I am thinking about Lockie Ferguson, and that’s a serious one. I don’t know whether he has an injury or not, but based on what I have read, he isn’t available for seven matches. He is saying he wants to spend some time with the family,” he said.
“He was available at the base price. He was bought for Rs 2 crore. He is playing for New Zealand. Then he will go home and spend time with his family. It’s not a bad thing-don’t judge anyone-but if you are leaving seven matches in the IPL after giving a commitment just because of that, then teams will have to realize that this is not right. Because you will come after seven matches, take Rs 1 crore, and leave… what is the point? By that time, the team’s campaign might be badly affected,” Chopra observed.
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)
Ravichandran Ashwin has given a strong early endorsement of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s title defence, insisting the franchise has assembled a squad capable of adding another IPL crown in the next couple of seasons. After ending a 17-year title drought in 2025, RCB enter IPL 2026 carrying the weight of expectation and the pressures that come with being defending champions.The 2025 mega auction saw RCB retain only Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal before rebuilding their roster. The overhaul brought in key additions such as Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Tim David, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, giving the side a more balanced structure that delivered the franchise’s long-awaited first IPL trophy.
Title-winning depth in RCB’s squad
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin praised the squad’s balance and depth, noting it no longer relies solely on one or two stars. “RCB can add another title in the next two years with this squad. Winning the IPL isn’t easy, but the building blocks they have, the kind of like-for-like replacements they have,” he said.Ashwin highlighted how RCB have addressed previous gaps in their combination. “The way they have addressed the holes in the combination. This is a good package to finish in the top two,” he said.For years, RCB were criticised for depending too heavily on star power. The post-auction rebuild has changed that perception. The batting is now more flexible, the pace resources stronger, and each player has a clearer role in the squad.
Foreign strength and Hazlewood’s absence
Ashwin singled out RCB’s foreign contingent as one of the best in the tournament. “In Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell, Tim David and Romario Shepherd, this is probably the best four foreigners you can get, and it is one of the best in the tournament,” he said.Despite Josh Hazlewood’s injury leaving his availability uncertain for the start of IPL 2026, Ashwin believes this could work in RCB’s favour. “In all honesty, this is a blessing in disguise for RCB. If they don’t have Hazlewood and they are concerned about Salt’s form, they can play both Salt and Bethell. And when Hazlewood returns, you will have a clearer picture on the form of these and depending on that you can change,” he said.Ashwin also noted the flexibility of the bowling attack. “If the bowling is leaking a lot, they can leave Mangesh Yadav out and bring in Jacob Duffy or Hazlewood when he is fit. They have a squad that can conquer home conditions and handle ups and downs with bat and ball,” he said.
Ahwin’s RCB probable XI (considering Hazlewood is unavailable):
Virat Kohli – Phil Salt – Jacob Bethell – Rajat Patidar – Jitesh Sharma – Tim David – Romario Shepherd – Krunal Pandya – Bhuvneshwar Kumar – Mangesh Yadav – Yash Dayal – Suyash Sharma (Impact Sub)With this blend of experience, and overseas firepower, Ashwin believes RCB are well-equipped to defend their title and remain among the frontrunners in IPL 2026.
The Zags are still looking for their first National Championship, and to get it, they have to go through Texas.
The formula the Longhorns used to beat BYU proved highly successful, and they’ll likely try to replicate that game plan against the Bulldogs.
UT forced AJ Dybantsa to shoot 1 for 7 from three, which doesn’t feel like a lot, but he could easily have shot 10-18 from the field, rather than 11-25.
The Horns will probably attempt to employ this strategy against Graham Ike, also.
If Ike falls into the trap, the Zags are in trouble.
Without Braden Huff, GU doesn’t have a second elite scoring option. They have a lot of great scorers, but in March, the superstars usually win.
And that’s why Ike needs to stay in the post.
He’ll be able to control the tempo of the game, draw fouls, and open up shots for other guys. This will also limit Texas’ chance at long runout rebounds.
This is the Longhorns third game in five days and they don’t want a physical matchup.
Jalen Warley and Tyon Grant-Foster are already going to swarm on defense. If Ike plays like a bully in the post, they’re probably going to wear out.
Gonzaga ranks 17th nationally in points allowed per game.
Also, if Ike can get some easy buckets early, it will take pressure off of Davis Fogle and Mario Saint-Supery.
Fogle can go off, but he’s only averaging 8.7 points per contest, so he lacks consistency. The same thing can be said about Saint-Supery.
Grant-Foster is the Bulldogs’ second-leading scorer, averaging 11.2 points per game.
Dailyn Swain has been UT’s leading scorer all year, but Tramon Mark has arguably proven to be their best player in the tournament.
Mark is averaging 18 points, 4.5 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals during their opening two games. Matas Vokietaitis also had a standout performance against BYU, tallying 23 points and 16 rebounds.
Texas might be the better team, but they won’t have the legs to beat Gonzaga. The Bulldogs also aren’t likely to lose in the round of 32 two years in a row.
UT shows some fight early, but GU ultimately wins comfortably.
Hooptown USA moves on.
Writes about football and basketball as a Senior Writer and hosts “The Nick Bartlett Show” for SuperWest Sports.
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NEW DELHI: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has flagged concerns over Rinku Singh’s form ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, stating that his dip in performances could be a key issue for Kolkata Knight Riders to address.KKR begin their campaign against five-time champions Mumbai Indians in Mumbai on March 29. Rinku heads into the season under scrutiny after a disappointing T20 World Cup, where he managed just 24 runs in five innings.
The left-hander’s struggles come after a remarkable breakthrough in IPL 2023, highlighted by his unforgettable five consecutive sixes off Yash Dayal during a 200-plus chase against Gujarat Titans — an innings that catapulted him to stardom.Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan reflected on the decline in Rinku’s returns since that standout season and his inability to make the most of opportunities at the World Cup.“We will have to see how much opportunity he gets to play. His 2023 season was outstanding. He scored 400-450 runs with a strike rate of 150. But after that, his performance dipped, and many times he did not get enough opportunities. He will have to maintain his standard and maximise the opportunities he gets. Even in the World Cup, he played five matches, but he could not fully capitalise on the chances he got. This is another problem that Kolkata needs to rectify, and Rinku Singh is one of them,” he said.Rinku had enjoyed a stellar 2023 campaign, scoring 474 runs in 14 innings at an average of 59.25 and a strike rate of 149.52, including four fifties. Since then, however, his numbers have dipped, with 374 runs in 22 innings at an average of 23.37, and a highest score of 38*.Pathan also pointed out that managing Varun Chakravarthy’s form would be another challenge for KKR. The mystery spinner started the T20 World Cup strongly, picking up nine wickets in four group-stage matches at an economy rate of just over five, but saw a sharp decline later, managing only five wickets in five matches from the Super Eight stage to the final, with his economy rate rising significantly.Despite the dip, Pathan backed Varun to bounce back and deliver in familiar conditions.“The challenge is how to bring Varun back with confidence given his current dip in form. He will play 14 matches, some of which will be at Kolkata’s ground, and he has definitely performed well in this league before. With the good memories he has in Kolkata, perhaps in a slightly different atmosphere, he might perform even better. I believe he will manage it, so although this is a challenge, Varun Chakaravarthy will overcome it,” said Pathan.Last season, Varun finished as the seventh-highest wicket-taker with 17 scalps at an average of 22.52 and an economy rate of 7.66, with best figures of 3/22. Overall, he has claimed 99 wickets in 83 matches for KKR, including two four-wicket hauls, with best figures of 5/20.
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Fabio Wardley sets sights on one man after Daniel Dubois fight: “Everything else is secondary”
Fabio Wardley has made it crystal clear who he wishes to face after May 9, when he firmly believes a win over Daniel Dubois will come to fruition.
The 31-year-old is gearing up to defend his WBO world title at Manchester’s Co-op Live, with former heavyweight champion Dubois looking to scupper his plans.
‘Dynamite’ became the IBF world champion following his eighth-round finish over Filip Hrgovic in 2024, before defending the title against Anthony Joshua later that year.
As a result of his five-round demolition job against ‘AJ’, Dubois later secured an undisputed showdown with Oleksandr Usyk, who ultimately handed him a fifth-round stoppage defeat last July.
Wardley, meanwhile, comes off an 11th-round finish over Joseph Parker last October, overcoming their enthralling battle with no small amount of grit and self-belief.
The Ipswich man was then elevated from ‘interim’ to full WBO champion after Usyk vacated the title, rather than collide with his mandatory challenger, in November.
Since then, though, the Ukrainian has expressed his interest in facing the winner of Wardley-Dubois after his clash with kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23.
Unsurprisingly, Wardley has also told Boxing Now that he is angling for a shot at Usyk, hoping to cement himself as the bona fide heavyweight king.
“After I win and beat Daniel, I’ll be looking at Usyk, and ultimately he holds the cards, so I’ll be waiting to hear what he says.
“Then everything else will be secondary to that, whether it be a [Tyson] Fury fight or – hard to mention his name, because of obviously what’s going on – but whether it be an ‘AJ’, or something like that.
“But ultimately, my eyes will be set on Usyk.”
Wardley has previously expressed an openness to lock horns with Fury, who must first complete his comeback assignment against Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11.
As for Joshua, the two-time heavyweight champion has now returned to the gym, training with Usyk, but is yet to confirm any details regarding his next outing.
Celin Bizet Donnum is redefining what it means to balance sport and personal life, and she’s doing it on her own terms.
The Manchester United Women winger is expecting her first child in 2026, a decision that would make many athletes pause their careers. But for Bizet, the fear was missing the chance to start a family.
“It was very scary to miss a season… but it was even more scary to not have the baby in my career.”
At just 24, she’s in her prime, yet she chose to embrace both dreams instead of delaying one for the other.
“If you have two dreams, you can live both of them at the same time.”
Bizet knows she’s part of a small but growing group.
“It’s still very rare to have a baby when you are a footballer.” And of course I will come back to football, that’s my motivation.”
CALGARY — No one knows how to antagonize an opponent, a team, or even a nation quite like Matthew Tkachuk.
But in his first game back in his old stomping grounds since Milan, the game’s most decorated player the last three years chose not to bring attention to the Olympic gold medal his American squad ripped from the hands of Team Canada.
“It’s the only trip I didn’t bring it on. I think my dad’s got it right now. I wasn’t showing it off in this place.”
A wise, respectful move by the longtime Flame who knew better than to rub anything in the faces of those who treated him so well the first six years of his career.
They treated him well again Friday, with only smattered boos sprinkled in on a night in which Tkachuk and his defending champs showed very little bite.
Flames fans would have lost their minds if he’d strutted into the Dome with Olympic hardware dangling from his neck. And he knows that too.
Instead, he arrived with nothing but memories, and a whole lot of enthusiasm for something Calgary hasn’t hosted in decades: meaningful international hockey.
Because if there was one topic that lit him up more than the gold he didn’t bring, it was the World Cup of Hockey landing in Calgary and Edmonton in 2028.
“I think it’ll be really good for the new building,” he said while champing at the bit to catch up with Ryan Lomberg and get out on the town with teammates.
“I’m excited. I love this building. I love having the memories here, but I think it’s gonna be great for the city now that they can get all the concerts and the stuff that they’ve been missing.”
Then he went full Calgary ambassador.
“Because, to me, this is the best city in the area, by far,” he smiled, unable to resist yet another shot at Edmonton.
“And now, with this new rink, it brings just that much more traction, and I think a lot more people outside of Calgary will see what a great city Calgary is.”
One night earlier his beleaguered club turned on the jets to run the Oilers’ show once again.
But on either side of that game, the battered Panthers were beaten soundly by the 32nd and 31st place teams in the league, as part of a western Canadian tour that started in Vancouver and ended in the city Tkachuk was drafted and broke in.
There’s a respect factor for Tkachuk in Calgary that’s clearly mutual.
Even though he informed the team he wouldn’t re-sign here in 2022, he did so a year ahead of time, giving the club ample time to get something meaningful for him in return.
He still talks about Calgary like a guy who knows the shortcuts, the late‑night eats, and the best patios. And, no matter the circumstances, he understands he broke a few hearts on the way out.
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32 Thoughts: The Podcast
Hockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.
“We got a couple boos the last few games, but nothing crazy,” shrugged Tkachuk, who has been a shadow of his irritating self since he returned from major surgery in time to play in the Olympics.
“It’s pretty good here. I love the fans here and I’ve got so many good memories with them. Still got some boos here.”
“Actually, (I was) surprised I got some boos in Vancouver.”
You can expect Tkachuk and his brother to be in the eye of the storm in 2028 when the eight-team best-on-best tourney will feature Canada and the U.S. playing round-robin games at Scotia Place, less than 6 months after it’s expected to open.
“I’m kind of surprised that there’s not a game in the U.S. at some point, if I’m being honest,” he said.
“But Calgary was my home for six years. With the round robin here we’ll be here for a few days, so make the team, and show a few guys some great spots.”
Another former Flame thriving in Florida, Sam Bennett lit up when asked about the World Cup coming to Alberta.
“Obviously it’s awesome,” said one of Team Canada’s gold medal heroes at the last incarnation of the World Cup, which was the 4 Nations Face-Off.
“I think it’s great for Calgary. I know how passionate the fans are here, so it’s great to see them get that experience. And I’m sure it’ll be awesome in that new building as well.”
But Bennett, unlike Tkachuk, allowed himself to get sentimental about the Saddledome, the rink that introduced him to the NHL and will soon be reduced to rubble.
“I mean, it’s where I got introduced to the NHL here, so obviously a lot of nostalgia coming back into this building,” said Bennett.
“This building will always be special to me. It’ll definitely be a sad day when this building goes down.”
Tkachuk didn’t say it outright, but you could feel it: He feels the same way.
The Dome is where he became Matthew Tkachuk, the villain, the hero, the entertainer.
The Olympic gold medalist who knew better than to remind everyone of it.
A review will also be allowed at the end of a point if a player feels his opponent may be guilty of hindrance.
Daniil Medvedev used the review system against Jack Draper in Indian Wells last week, after the British player briefly stretched his arms out wide during a rally to signal his belief that a Medvedev forehand was long.
Umpire Aurelie Tourte watched a replay on her tablet and ruled Draper was guilty of hindrance – of making either an action or a noise to disturb an opponent – and awarded the Russian the point.
Draper admitted it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but thought Medvedev had “played the rules quite well” and did not believe his gesture had been enough to distract him.
The US Open has been using video reviews since 2023, and the Australian Open since 2025.
It is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour and by next season the men’s ATP Tour will have video reviews in place at all of its events.
Another change at Wimbledon this year will be the addition of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the audio calls produced by ELC.
Spectators have sometimes been unsure whether a ball was in or out – and at the Australian Open this year, the net posts flashed red to give the crowd a visual cue whenever a ball was out.
With exactly 100 days to go until the start of The Championships, the AELTC has also announced that capacity at the qualifying competition in Roehampton will increase from 3,500 to 4,000 each day.
JOHANNESBURG — While something raucous is certainly building at the Club at Steyn City, here at LIV South Africa, it feels like one LIV duel won’t get decided for another 23 days, and on a different continent. LIV will place 11 golfers in the Masters field three weeks from now, but the amount you’d place a wager on winning? It might just be two … but possibly two of the top three.
Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau — by far the two biggest assets on the globe-trotting circuit — have been circling each other these last three weeks in different corners of the world. They’re going to keep doing so the next two days in Johannesburg, too, and one might even lift the trophy. (DeChambeau leads by two. Rahm trails by three.) But regardless of what happens in South Africa, both are obviously tracking toward some of the best golf of their lives, just days before the first major of the year.
During a Masters-related chat Tuesday morning, Rahm admitted that the form he feels right now mimics where he was in late 2021 into 2022, or late 2022 into 2023 — the two peaks that stood out to him across his career. Not so shockingly, that’s when he won his majors.
“I would say on ’23, my iron game was probably just as sharp,” Rahm said. “Putting was possibly a little bit better. I don’t know what the stats say. I’m just going based on what I feel. And driving was good. I feel like I’ve driven it better so far this year.
“I’m feeling really, really good. That’s what I can say. I don’t know how to quantify it because it doesn’t always correlate to wins.”
Jon Rahm withdraws DPWT sanctions appeal. But his stance hasn’t changed
;)
He’s certainly lived up to that. Rahm’s season started with a second-place finish in Riyadh, continued with another second in Australia, and then felt like a real breakthrough when he finally won in Hong Kong. He squeezed enough out of his game last week in Singapore to finish solo fifth. Atop that leaderboard was DeChambeau.
DeChambeau’s spurt of form has been much more recent. He contended with Rahm (also in a losing effort to Anthony Kim) in Australia before a T24 in Hong Kong. Then he won in Singapore with what he called his “major championship golf.”
A few days later, he’s now halfway to a wire-to-wire victory, two clear of the field. And what’s different about DeChambeau, when compared to Rahm, is that his nirvana of form is much more narrow. Rather than pinpoint specific years or months of a season, he cites a very specific third and final round from August 2023.
“I feel like I’m getting closer to when I shot 58 at Greenbrier,” DeChambeau said Saturday after his way-too easy 65, which featured a double bogey. “That’s what I’ve been striving to get back to. I lost it a little bit. I’ve been working with Dana [Dahlquist] and Sportsbox [AI] to figure out what exactly I did back in ’23 at Greenbrier. I feel like I’m getting close to that again.”
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MS Dhoni signs, Sanju Samson refuses — CSK’s new star wins hearts with classy gesture – WATCH | Cricket News
MS Dhoni and Sanju Samson (Image credit: CSK)
A simple gesture off the field once again showed why Sanju Samson continues to win hearts — even before playing a single game for Chennai Super Kings. As Samson begins a new chapter in yellow ahead of IPL 2026, he has already been making the most of his time alongside MS Dhoni — sharing nets, engaging in cricketing conversations and learning from one of the game’s greats. The wicketkeeper-batter has also been seen accompanying Dhoni at events, soaking in the experience. But it was during one such event that Samson’s humility stood out.
After Dhoni signed a bat, organisers requested Samson to do the same. The former Rajasthan Royals captain politely declined, choosing to let the moment remain about the CSK legend. Dhoni, however, ensured Samson eventually added his autograph — a small moment that resonated widely with fans.Fresh off a stellar ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, where he played a key role in India’s title-winning run, Samson now gears up for his first season with CSK after a major move from Rajasthan Royals.Speaking about the opportunity to share the dressing room with Dhoni, Samson said, “I have spoken to Mahi bhai (Dhoni) over the phone and interacted with him, but playing with him as part of a team will be great. I see it as an opportunity to learn from him.”“(I am) looking forward to playing for CSK, I feel grateful for the love and attention I have been getting from fans,” he added.Samson’s journey with CSK will begin with an emotional clash against his former franchise, as Chennai take on Rajasthan Royals in their opening game on March 30 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.“This is the first time I will play against Rajasthan Royals, but I don’t let emotions rule me on the field. I left Rajasthan Royals because I felt my time in the team was over. Even if we come up against them now, I will play my best cricket,” Samson said.
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Who do you think will have the bigger impact in the upcoming match between CSK and Rajasthan Royals?
High on confidence after being named Player of the Tournament in India’s T20 World Cup triumph — sealed with a dominant win over New Zealand — Samson believes the momentum is with him.“I wasn’t very confident when I left home to play in the World Cup, but the universe had other plans; I played well and the reception has been great,” said Samson.
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