NEW DELHI: “Tayyar rahio, ek problem aane wala hai”That was Axar Patel’s message to Sameer Rizvi forward of IPL 2026. What Rizvi didn’t know then was how shortly that problem would arrive—or how decisively he would stamp his authority on it.When it did, the 22-year-old delivered a press release.Chasing 142 in opposition to Lucknow Tremendous Giants, Rizvi walked in at No. 4 and produced a composed, unbeaten 70 off 47 balls, guiding Delhi Capitals to a six-wicket win. He walked into a hoop of fireplace, together with his UP teammate Mohsin Khan and the remainder of the LSG tempo battery making life tough for the batters. However Rizvi weathered the early storm earlier than settling into his consolation zone and accelerating with management.‘No. 4 is his favorite place’Rizvi’s consolation on the place comes as no shock. He entered IPL 2026 on the again of constant home type—491 runs within the UP T20 League, the place he primarily batted at No. 4.“I’m snug batting at No 4. I needed to bat on the spot and the coach had instructed me earlier that I might are available in at No 4 and that they might again me,” he stated. “He requested me to play my pure recreation and keep optimistic,” Rizvi had instructed reporters after the sport.Axar’s reminder forward of DC’s season opener was a validation of the belief the administration had positioned in him.As per his uncle and formative coach, Tankeeb Akhtar, Rizvi relishes batting at No. 4, with time within the center being key to his recreation.“Tujhe 4 pe batting karni hai. Tayyar rehna [You have to bat at No. 4. Be ready]. That’s what Axar Patel instructed him,” Akhtar tells Timesofindia.com. “He was very completely satisfied. No. 4 is his favorite batting place. When he known as me, he was extraordinarily completely satisfied and stated, ‘That was superb, mamu’]”.

Sameer Rizvi together with his uncle and formative coach,Tankeeb Akhtar

“Even final 12 months, within the closing match, he performed a tremendous knock—scoring 58 runs to assist Delhi win. That’s the place it began for him. Towards LSG too, he performed an excellent knock. The one change was that he wanted time on the crease, and Axar gave him that point yesterday. As soon as he acquired time to choose the wicket, he batted very well. He was completely satisfied,” he added.’Mamu, you’ll see – I’ll play properly this time’Rizvi was the second-highest run-getter within the UP T20 League, averaging 61.38 and placing at 161.51. He continued his wealthy vein of type within the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 238 runs at a mean of 59.50.Again dwelling in Meerut, his preparation for IPL 2026 was intense and methodical.“When he’s in Meerut, he bats for 3 hours on the centre wicket. Medium pacers, spinners, quick bowlers—everybody was used to organize him for the IPL. He has labored extraordinarily arduous for this season. I’m positive he’ll proceed to play match-winning knocks this season. Whereas leaving, he simply stated, ‘Mamu, you’ll see – I’ll play properly this time’,” says Akhtar.‘8 crore ho ya 20 lakh – cricket khelna hai bass’Rizvi’s IPL journey has already seen sharp turns. Picked by Chennai Super Kings for Rs 8.40 crore in 2024, he struggled to transform his alternatives and managed simply 51 runs in eight matches.He was launched the next season – a transfer that raised eyebrows and introduced with it an inevitable dip in valuation. Delhi Capitals picked him up for Rs 95 lakh. That large drop in value may have simply unsettled the teenager, however as Akhtar says, for Rizvi, it was all the time about enjoying the sport, not the value tag hooked up to it.“Dekhiye bura bahot lagta hai however Sameer ne kabhi dikhaya nahi wo apne shakal pe [Look, it does hurt a lot, but Sameer never showed it on his face]. Cricket comes first for him. He by no means talks concerning the price ticket. He used to say whether or not it’s Rs 8 crore or a Rs 20 lakh base value, he simply desires to play cricket, regardless of which IPL staff it’s,” says Akhtar.In 2025, after beginning within the enjoying XI for the preliminary matches, Rizvi misplaced his place to the likes of Abhishek Porel and Ashutosh Sharma, and finally managed simply 5 video games the entire season – scoring 121 runs at 40.33 and placing at 153.16, together with a fifty in DC’s closing recreation.Making an Influence This 12 months, although, as an affect substitute, Rizvi has made his mark with a match-winning knock within the first recreation itself. He’ll now hope for a constant run – one thing Akhtar additionally believes is inside attain.“Mauka bahut kam mila tha usko CSK mein [He didn’t get many opportunities at CSK]. Even within the IPL now, this was solely his second or third probability, and he performed an excellent innings,” says Akhtar, including that the CSK stint did assist Rizvi evolve as a cricketer. “He realized rather a lot from MS Dhoni – each his strategy to the sport and his considering advanced. However when Dhoni stepped down as captain, all the things modified. I had even requested him about alternatives or transferring up the batting order. He stated the captain is completely different now. He simply didn’t get sufficient possibilities, that’s all,” remembers Akhtar.At DC, Rizvi appears to have discovered the perfect help system – a captain who trusts him and a senior professional he can lean on.“Axar has supported him rather a lot. He treats him like an elder brother. He additionally spends time with KL Rahul. He has instructed him one factor: ‘Be centered in your purpose,’” says Akhtar concerning the DC setup.From a quiet heads-up earlier than the season to taking up the problem head-on, Rizvi has proven early indicators that he may seize his second in his third IPL 12 months.