Sameer Rizvi walked in at 26/4 and walked off because the Player of the Match with an unbeaten 70 off 47 balls in DC’s IPL 2026 opener towards Lucknow Super Giants. But who precisely is that this 22-year-old from Meerut who as soon as value Rs 8.4 crore after which received launched after one season?
His journey from catching Suresh Raina’s eye at age eight to changing into Delhi Capitals’ match winner is likely one of the most fascinating tales in Indian cricket proper now. Here is every part it’s essential learn about Sameer Rizvi.
The Kid Who Caught Suresh Raina’s Eye at Age Eight
Rizvi’s cricket journey began on the Gandhibagh Academy in Meerut beneath his maternal uncle Tankeeb Akhtar’s teaching. At simply eight years outdated, his fielding impressed Suresh Raina throughout a Ranji Trophy match a lot that Raina gifted him his sun shades.
Consequently, social media dubbed him the “right-handed Suresh Raina.” He made his top quality debut at 16 for Uttar Pradesh and exploded within the 2023 UP T20 League with 455 runs in 9 innings, together with a 47 ball century.
The IPL Rollercoaster: Rs 8.4 Crore to Release to Redemption
Chennai Super Kings spent a document Rs 8.4 crore on the uncapped Rizvi within the 2024 public sale. However, he received simply 43 balls throughout eight matches and scored solely 51 runs. CSK launched him after one season.
Delhi Capitals then picked him up for Rs 95 lakh, a large worth drop that would have crushed a younger participant’s confidence. Instead, Rizvi scored 121 runs in 4 innings throughout IPL 2025 at a strike charge of 153.16.
The Knock That Changes Everything
Against LSG, Rizvi entered as Impact Player with DC reeling at 21/2. Within six balls, two extra wickets fell. He took 9 balls to open his account on a seaming pitch. Then, a ramp shot for six off Anrich Nortje broke the strain.
He attacked Shahbaz Ahmed’s spin with sweeps and cuts earlier than ending the sport with a six off Abdul Samad. His 47 balls on this single innings matched his complete ball depend from IPL 2024.
What This Means for Rizvi’s Future
This knock proves Rizvi has developed past a flat monitor energy hitter. He confirmed endurance, recreation consciousness, and the power to shift gears beneath strain.
At 22, with three IPL seasons behind him, Rizvi lastly has a captain in Axar Patel and a franchise in DC prepared to provide him constant alternatives at quantity 4. The redemption story has simply begun.
