New Delhi: “Get ready, a challenge is coming”He was. Akshar PatelMessage for Sameer Rizvi ahead of IPL 2026 What Rizvi didn’t know at the time was how quickly the challenge would arrive—or how decisively he would stamp his authority on it.When he did, the 22-year-old made a statement.Chasing 142 against Lucknow Supergiants, Rizvi came in at No. 4 and scored an unbeaten 70 off 47 balls, leading Delhi Capitals to a six-wicket win. He was making life difficult for the batsmen along with his UP teammate Mohsin Khan and the rest of the LSGP pace battery. But Rizvi weathered the initial storm before settling into his comfort zone and accelerating with control.‘No 4 is his favorite position’Rizvi’s satisfaction with this position is not surprising. He entered IPL 2026 on the back of consistent domestic form — scoring 491 runs in the UP T20 League, where he batted primarily at No.4.“I am comfortable batting at No. 4. I wanted to bat at that position and the coach told me earlier that I will come at No. 4 and he will support me,” he said. “He told me to play my natural game and stay positive,” Rizvi told reporters after the game.Axar’s recall before the start of DC’s season was a confirmation of the management’s faith in him.According to his uncle and formative coach, Tankib Akhtar, Rizvi enjoys batting at No. 4, with timing in the middle being the key to his game.“You have to bat at 4, be prepared [You have to bat at No. 4. Be ready]. That’s what Akshar Patel told him,” Akhtar told Timesofindia.com.” He was very happy. Number 4 is his favorite batting position. When he called me, he was very happy and said, ‘Yeh tu kamal tha mamu’].
Samir Rizvi with his uncle and formative coach, Tankib Akhtar
“Last year too, in the final match, he played a great innings — 58 to win Delhi. That’s where it all started for him. Against LSG, too, he played a very good innings. The only change was that he needed time at the crease, and Aksar gave him that time yesterday. Once he got time to settle down on the wicket, he batted very happily.”‘Mum, you’ll see – I’ll play well this time’Rizvi was the second highest run-scorer in the UPT20 league with an average of 61.38 and 161.51. He continued his prolific form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 238 runs at an average of 59.50.Back home in Meerut, their preparations for IPL 2026 were intense and methodical.“When he is in Meerut, he bats for three hours at centre-wicket. Medium pacers, spinners, fast bowlers – everyone was used to prepare him for the IPL. He has worked very hard for this season. I am sure he will continue to play match winning innings this season. While leaving, he just said, ‘Mum, you’ll see – I’ll play well this time’,” says Akhtar.‘8 crores or 20 lakhs – playing cricket is the boss’Rizvi’s IPL journey has already seen a sharp turn. Raised by Chennai Super Kings 8.40 crore in 2024, he struggled to convert his chances and managed just 51 runs in eight matches.He was released the following season – a move that raised eyebrows and brought with it an inevitable price drop. Delhi Capitals picked him up for Rs 95 lakh. This massive drop in price could have easily upset the youngster, but as Akhtar says, for Rizvi, it was always about playing the game, not the price tag attached to it.“Look, the elder cares a lot, but Samir has never seen him on his own form [Look, it does hurt a lot, but Sameer never showed it on his face]. Cricket comes first for him. He never talks about price. He used to say whether it was Rs 8 crore or a base price of Rs 20 lakh, he just wanted to play cricket, whichever IPL team it was,” says Akhtar.In 2025, after joining the playing eleven for the opening matches, Rizvi lost his place to the likes of Abhishek Poral and Ashutosh Sharma, and eventually managed just five games in the entire season – scoring 121 runs at 40.33 and scoring 153.16, including a fifty in the DC final.Making an impact This year, though, as a substitute of influence, Rizvi has made his mark with a match-winning knock in the very first game. Now he will hope for a consistent run – Akhtar too believes that is within reach.“Maoka got a lot of work at CSK [He didn’t get many opportunities at CSK]. Even now in the IPL, it was his second or third time, and he played a very good innings,” says Akhtar, adding that the CSK stint helped develop Rizvi as a cricketer. “He learned a lot from MS Dhoni – both his approach to the game and his thinking developed. But when Dhoni left the captaincy, everything changed. I also asked him about opportunities or moving up the batting order. He said that the captain is different now. He didn’t get enough opportunities, that’s all,” recalls Akhtar.At DC, Rizvi seems to have found the ideal support system – a captain who trusts him and a senior pro he can lean on.“Azhar has helped him a lot. He treats him like a big brother. He also spends time with KL Rahul. He has told him one thing: ‘Focus on your goal,'” says Akhtar about the DC setup.From quietly stepping up in the pre-season to rising to the challenge, Rizvi has shown early signs that he can make the most of his moments in his third IPL year.
