IPL 2024 Auction: Brand new CSK boy Sameer Rizvi on MS Dhoni - "Never seen him in flesh and bone'

IPL 2024 Auction: Sameer Rizvi, who became a household name on Tuesday after being bought for Rs 8.40 crore by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL auction 2024, has opened up on the prospect of playing under MS Dhoni.

The excited and overwhelmed 20-year-old said that he has not seen MS Dhoni in real, and meeting and playing under him would be dreamy for him. He also said that he was approached by all ten franchise for trials before the auction.

"I was approached by all ten franchises for trials but I was busy with U23. I could only attend camps of three ipl teams. I am excited to share the dressing room with MS Dhoni, he's my idol," Sameer Rizvi told JioCinema.

"I have never seen MS Dhoni in flesh and bone, it will be a dream come true moment for me," he added.

The Uttar Pradesh batter also talked about how the UP T20 League has helped him. He said he gained experience playing under lights.

"UP T20 league experience has helped me a lot. It provided us with a platform to express, the exposure of playing under the lights helped us improve our game."

The supremely talented Samir Rizvi hit as many as 20 sixes for Kanpur Superstars in the UP T20 League 2023. The right-hander batter also smashed two cracking hundreds and finished with 455 runs in nine innings in the tournament.

Sameer Rizvi's journey did not always see the upward slope. He was rejected by Mumbai Indians (MI) in his trials two years ago. He said he lacked confidence back then.

"When I appeared for the MI trials, I struggled with myself. I wouldn’t back myself. So, in the last two years I have focussed on improving myself and have been giving myself the confidence to back myself and play to my strengths. I don’t want to do anything just to show someone. So, I have regained my confidence," the CSK star said.

Sameer Rizvi on celebrations after being bought by CSK

Rizvi, who was nervous after a few uncapped players went unsold, said his neighbours were very hopeful of his name being called out in the IPL 2022 auction. He said people in his society dance and became emotional after CSK broke the bank for him.

"There’s been a crowd at home since morning. Everyone felt that my name would come. So once that happened, all my friends, people in my society became very emotional. Some began dancing. So that was a different moment."