Sameer Rizvi

Indian cricketer

Sameer Rizvi

Sameer Rizvi (left) with Rashid Zirak

Personal information
Born|  (2003-12-06) 6 December 2003 (age 21)
Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India
Batting| Right-handed
Bowling| Right arm off break
Domestic team information
Years| Team
2020–present| Uttar Pradesh
2024| Chennai Super Kings (squad no. 1)
Career statistics
| Competition | FC | LA | T20

|
|
|

Matches | 9 | 14 | 28
Runs scored | 152 | 358 | 480
Batting average | 11.69 | 35.80 | 32.00
100s/50s | 0/0 | 1/1 | 0/2
Top score | 28 | 105 | 75*
Catches/stumpings | 6/– | 6/– | 8/–

Source: ESPNcricinfo, 3 January 2025

Sameer Rizvi (born 6 December 2003) is an Indian cricketer who plays for Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket.[1] He has also played age-group cricket representing India at Under-19 level.[2] He is nicknamed the right-handed Suresh Raina on social media due to his playing style resembling that of Raina.[3]

## Early life

[edit]

Rizvi began playing cricket at the age of eleven, and began practicing the sport at Gandhibagh Academy in Meerut, where he was coached by his maternal uncle Tankeeb Akhtar, who inspired Sameer to take up cricket seriously.[3] Akhtar also faced the wrath of Sameer's father for distracting Sameer from focusing on studies.[4] In a Ranji Trophy match between Uttar Pradesh and Saurashtra in 2011, Rizvi got the attention of Uttar Pradesh captain Suresh Raina, who was impressed by the eight-year-old Rizvi’s fielding efforts.[3] Raina eventually spotted the talent in Rizvi and gifted him his sunglasses.[3]

Rizvi used to open the batting till the Under-16 level, but he was convinced to bat at the middle order by one of his coaches after witnessing his natural game of batting against spin bowling. Over the years, he raised his reputation for big hitting. He is reported to have commenced his education quite late in his career and completed his class 10 exams only after turning 20.[4]

He stepped up as the main breadwinner of his family after his father was diagnosed with a brain haemorrhage in 2020.[3]

## Career

[edit]

Rizvi made his first-class debut on 27 January 2020 at the age of 16, for Uttar Pradesh in the 2019–20 Ranji Trophy.[5] At age 20, he gained attention in the UP T20 League.[6] He made his List A debut on 11 December 2021, for Uttar Pradesh in the 2021–22 Vijay Hazare Trophy.[7] He made headlines in social circles in the 2023 UP T20 League, where he piled up 455 runs in nine innings during the tournament, including two centuries (which also included the fastest century of the tournament coming in only 47 deliveries) while playing for the Kanpur Superstars, and he also raised his bar by being the most prolific six-hitter for his team during the competition.[3][8] His batting skills during the UP T20 League caught the attention of some of the IPL franchises including Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals who asked him to attend the trials.[9] However, he had to miss the trials due to his commitments with the Under-23 squad of Uttar Pradesh.[3][8]

In December 2023, he was bought for the record price of 8.40 crore by the Chennai Super Kings in the auction for the 2024 Indian Premier League tournament.[10][11] The day after, his house was flooded with media reporters, neighbors and also a local Uttar Pradesh politician. He became the highest earning, most expensive uncapped player in the 2024 IPL auction.[12][13][4]

In December 2024, Sameer Rizvi Smashes Fastest Double Century in U23 State A Trophy.[14]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Sameer Rizvi". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
2. ^ Chhabria, Vinay (18 December 2023). "Who is Sameer Rizvi? 5 interesting facts about all-rounder signed for ₹8.4 crore by CSK at IPL 2024 Auction". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
3. ^ a b c d e f g "Why CSK splurged INR 8.40 crore on Rizvi, the right-handed Raina". ESPNcricinfo. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
4. ^ a b c "IPL Auction: Meerut boy Sameer Rizvi hits big payday". The Times of India. 20 December 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
5. ^ "Elite, Group B, Ranji Trophy at Indore, Jan 27-30 2020". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
6. ^ expressblogshub.com (19 December 2023). "Sameer Rizvi Uncapped Indian Batsmen Sold To CSK Who Is Sameer Rizvi?". Retrieved 30 December 2023.
7. ^ "Elite, Group C, Chandigarh, Dec 11 2021, Vijay Hazare Trophy". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
8. ^ a b "IPL 2024 auction: Five uncapped Indians to watch out for". ESPNcricinfo. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
9. ^ "UP big-hitter Rizvi lands IPL bonanza with Chennai Super Kings". Hindustan Times. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
10. ^ "Know the big-earners: Shubham Dubey, Sameer Rizvi, Kumar Kushagra". Cricbuzz. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
11. ^ "'A dream come true': Cricketer Sameer Rizvi on being acquired by CSK for a massive Rs 8.4 crore | TOI Original - Times of India Videos". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
12. ^ "Sameer Rizvi's IPL auction story: Mamu saw potential, CSK spent Rs 8.40 crore for uncapped Rinku Singh-like finisher". The Indian Express. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
13. ^ "From Sameer Rizvi to Robin Minz: Why franchises splashed big for uncapped stars with no IPL experience at 2024 auction". Hindustan Times. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
14. ^ "Sameer Rizvi Smashes Fastest Double Century". Briomatic. 22 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Sameer Rizvi at ESPNcricinfo