Sameer Rizvi

A right-handed batting all-rounder with decent attributes as an off-spinner, Sameer Rizvi made headlines when he garnered runs for fun in the Uttar Pradesh T20 (UPT20) 2023. 

 Sameer Rizvi, a beacon of hope for aspiring cricketers, embarked on his cricketing journey under the tutelage of his maternal uncle, Tankeeb Akhtar. Despite his own unfulfilled cricketing dreams, Akhtar's keen eye for talent spotted Rizvi's potential, setting him on a path that would lead to his current status as an IPL star, a testament to his hard work and dedication.

Hailing from Meerut, Rizvi used to train at Gandhibagh Academy with his uncle watching him at close quarters. He was an opener till the Under-16 level but switched to a middle-order batter on the advice of a coach.

Rizvi made his First-Class debut in the Ranji Trophy 2019-20 against Madhya Pradesh. He appeared in his first white-ball games at the domestic level in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021 and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2022, respectively.

Sameer Rizvi's true prowess was unveiled in the local T20 tournament, UP T20 2023. Representing the Kanpur Superstars, he left a trail of awe with his staggering 455 runs in just nine innings at a strike rate of 188.80. His powerful hits and unmatched sixes, a total of 35, made him the highest six-hitter of the competition. Rizvi's standout moment came when he scored a blistering 122 runs, the highest individual score of the tournament, including the fastest century in just 47 balls, a feat that left the cricketing world in awe.

He followed it up with another remarkable personal campaign, leading Uttar Pradesh’s run-scoring charts in SMAT 2023. He smashed 277 runs in seven innings, including three fifties, at a strike-rate of 139.90. 

Rizvi soon received an Under-23 call-up and again added impressive showings to his resume. In UP’s title-winning campaign, he scored 454 runs in seven innings and tonked 37 sixes, the highest among all batters.

He was called for trials by at least three IPL teams, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals. However, he missed this opportunity due to an U-23 assignment.

Destiny had a grand plan for Sameer Rizvi as the Chennai Super Kings, recognizing his immense potential, broke the bank for him. They splurged a whopping INR 8.40 crore to secure his services for IPL 2024, making him the most expensive uncapped player in the IPL 2024 auction, a testament to his rising star status in the cricketing world.

(As of March 2024)