Three years can change everything in cricket. For Sameer Rizvi, they nearly took it all away. From an Rs 8.4 crore headline buy for Chennai to slipping below Rs 1 crore, the hype around him faded. But Rizvi chose to put his head down and chase runs rather than the chatter. The 22-year-old from Meerut is lighting up Delhi’s campaign this IPL season with a swagger that’s hard to ignore. Mumbai’s attack, which featured Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar and Mitchell Santner on Saturday, got a front-row seat to his audition for the season. The boy from Meerut took the attack to the opposition.
A lot of comparisons have already been drawn with Suresh Raina-the intent, ease against spin, and that appetite for the big moment. But this story is slowly becoming his own.
Deepak Chahar, the Mumbai bowler, said, “I think he has the potential. When CSK bought him, they knew this ability. So obviously, the potential was always there. Now, with experience, he has become better. What I’ve seen in the IPL is that confidence is the key to success. Everybody selected in the IPL has the skill, right? So now, I think he has become confident.”
Back-to-back statements followed. First, an unbeaten 70 off 47 balls against Lucknow. Then a stunning 90 off 51 against Mumbai, studded with seven fours and seven sixes, which helped Delhi take complete control of the chase. The hundred didn’t come, but Delhi cruised home with 11 balls to spare.
What makes this turnaround even richer is where it began-not in the IPL spotlight, but in the grind of the UP T20 League, where he scored nearly 500 runs in 2025 and another 400-plus the year before. He rebuilt himself as a cricketer. Delhi then picked him up for a bargain price of Rs 95 lakh this season.
The Chennai stint, in which he scored 51 runs in eight innings, had left a dent.
Those who have watched him closely aren’t surprised. His coach, Tankeeb Akhtar, speaks of a boy who carried responsibility early-the youngest of four-playing not just for dreams, but for family.
Ghaziabad Cricket Association president Rakesh Mishra said, “Sameer is an extremely talented player. He performed brilliantly at the Under-16 level, captained UP Under-19, and has delivered consistently in the CK Nayudu, Syed Mushtaq Ali and Ranji tournaments.”
Now, the stage is bigger-and Rizvi looks ready.
He was known for taking down spin. Against Mumbai, he showed he is just as comfortable against pace. That’s when a prospect turns into a player. The price tag may have dropped. The belief clearly hasn’t. And if this run continues, it won’t be long before the next jump isn’t just in crores, but in colours as well
Featured Video Of The Day
IPL Highlights | RCB Register Win Over SRH In Season Opener With A Kohli Special