Young batter Sameer Rizvi is enjoying his time with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in his debut season in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Rizvi, who grabbed the limelight after his heroics in the inaugural edition of the UPT20, was picked by CSK for a whopping Rs 8.4 crore at the IPL 2024 players auction last year. He gave a good account for himself in CSK’s second game of the season against Gujarat Titans, hitting Rashid Khan for two sixes.
Taking to Instagram, Rizvi shared a heartfelt post for former CSK skipper MS Dhoni, who relinquished his captaincy on the eve of the IPL 2024 opener. Rizvi asserted that playing with Dhoni has been a dream come true for him.
“Soaking in all the widsom from the GOAT. From watching him conjure magic on the TV screen to sharing the dressing room with him, a dream come true indeed!,” Rizvi captioned a couple of photos.
CSK also shared a video where Dhoni can be seen having a chat with Rizvi in the training camp.
One Super Kudumbam this is! #WhistlePodu #Yellovepic.twitter.com/aNxACH0JHG
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 30, 2024
After the match against GT, Rizvi revealed the advice he received from the franchise’s poster boy and legendary former skipper Dhoni.
“The way the situation was in the 19th over when I was sent, I was going to hit it big if a delivery was on my radar. The very first ball was in my area and I smashed it for a six,” said Rizvi, who shot to fame with his performances in the UPT20 League last year.
Rizvi said that he was happy to be picked up by the Yellow franchise since it was his life-long dream to meet Dhoni.
“When 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,” said the batter.
Recalling Dhoni’s advice, Rizvi said that India’s World Cup-winning skipper asked him to play his natural game.
“MSD has 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,” said Rizvi.
He scored 455 runs in 10 matches at an average of over 50, with two tons and a fifty. His runs came at a strike rate of over 188. In 11 T20s for UP, he has scored 295 runs at an average of 49.16 and an SR of over 134, with two fifties.
(With ANI Inputs)
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