Sameer Rizvi Opens Up on Reason for Choosing 'New' Jersey Number, 'Currently Worn by...'

Sameer Rizvi played a cameo of a six-ball 14-run knock, which included two sixes against Rashid Khan as Chennai Super Kings defeated Gujarat Giants by 63 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday.

Sameer Rizvi revealed after the match that he generally wears the number seven on his back but playing in CSK, he chose one. Speaking about his jersey number, the 20-year-old Meerut batter said, “My jersey number is seven, which is currently worn by Bhaiya and I can’t get it. So, I liked the number 1, and I took it.”

Rizvi had caught the eyes of IPL talent scouts for the first time during the UP T20 League while playing for Kanpur Super Stars. He had hammered 455 runs from nine matches including the fastest hundred in the tournament off 47 balls.

Rizvi carried that form into the state Under-23 tournament where he smashed 454 runs from seven matches. But more than those runs, it was Rizvi’s ability to clear the ropes by miles that fascinated the scouts. The young batter smoked 72 sixes across 16 matches in those tournaments.

On Tuesday, Rizvi swept the first ball he faced in IPL, off Rashid Khan, for a majestic six over the square leg region in the 19th over and then the Indian cricketer finished the over with another maximum.

Rizvi recalled the moment he was picked up by the franchise during the auction ahead of the season for a whopping Rs 8.4 crore, as he felt that his dream of meeting Dhoni will eventually come true.

“When I was picked up during the auction by CSK, my greatest happiness was my dream to meet Bhaiya (MS Dhoni) would be fulfilled. We also had net sessions together and got to learn a lot from him and the (support) staff. I intend to learn more and perform to the fullest.”

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Rizvi also talked about the positive atmosphere in the CSK dressing room.

“Everyone loves each other in the team and backs everyone. The thought process of hitting the six in my first ball came out of my heart, and the team members also cheered for me with all their hearts,” he said.

“Whenever I have a query in mind, I ask everyone in the team, be it in batting or fielding, about their mentality while going to bat. Learning these small things would benefit me in the long run,” he concluded.

(With inputs from Agencies)