Sameer Rizvi

When the news of a 20-year-old being snapped up by Chennai Super Kings for 8.4 crore in IPL 2024 auction broke, everyone was curious to know more about this young boy hailing from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.

Sameer Rizvi, popularly known as the "right-handed Suresh Raina", has since then made his IPL debut in CSK's game against Gujarat Titans. He smashed two sixes off Rashid Khan before falling on 14 off six balls.

Rizvi's cricketing journey took wings as a 11-year-old at the Gandhibagh Academy in Meerut, under the mentorship of his maternal uncle, Tankeeb Akhtar. In a Ranji Trophy match between Uttar Pradesh and Saurashtra in 2011, Raina happened to catch a glimpse of the five-year-old Rizvi's fielding, and he was so impressed by his skills that he gifted him his sunglasses.

He initially batted as an opener until the U16 level, but shifted to the middle-order owing to a coach's observation of his ability to play spin really well. The transition worked and he has managed to build a reputation as an aggressive batsman.

Rizvi made his first-class debut for Uttar Pradesh in 2020 at the age of 16, where he didn't get many games. The following year, he made his List A debut for Uttar Pradesh. The youngster rues the missed chances for the senior side, but he understands that all these are phases in a cricketer's life. "Every player goes through phases of not being in the team or not being able to score runs and that's part of it. I couldn't make the most of the chances I got in the senior side and I gave two trials for Mumbai Indians earlier but didn't make the cut. This time I was called by all 10 franchises for trials but I made it to only three - Punjab Kings, RCB and Rajasthan Royals - because of my Under-23 games..." Rizvi was quoted as saying.

The breakaway moment that gave him spotlight and later the CSK signing, happened because of the 2023 UP T20 League. Playing for Kanpur Superstars, Rizvi amassed 455 runs from only nine innings, which included two centuries. One of the hundred was the fastest of the tournament, off just 47 balls.

Being the main breadwinner after his father was diagnosed with a brain haemorrhage three years ago, the CSK callup was a big moment for the youngster. "When the auction happened, CSK picked me up, I was happy because meeting MS Dhoni was a dream, let alone playing with him. It has been fulfilled. I got to learn a lot from him and the staff. I am trying to learn as much as possible and do well," Rizvi had said then.

Recalling Dhoni's advice ahead of his debut match in IPL, Rizvi says: "MSD told me to play the way I do, telling me that the game is the same, the skill is the same, but the mindset is different. He has asked me not to feel pressure and to play as per the situation. He told me to take care of my nerves in the first match in front of a huge crowd."

Having just played seven first-class and 11 List-A games for Uttar Pradesh, the 20-year-old Rizvi still has a long way to go before he realises his dream of playing for India. However, at CSK he has a great opportunity to hone his skills under the guidance of an experienced support staff and learn more about the game while being surrounded by star players from around the world.