CSK player Sameer Rizvi wants to buy big house, provide better treatment for ill father after IPL 2024 windfall

Sameer Rizvi and his uncle Tankeeb Akhtar were choked with emotions as Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals engaged in an intense bidding war for the 20-year-old Uttar Pradesh batter in the IPL auction on Tuesday.

The paddle finally settled at a whopping Rs. 8.40 crore with Rizvi going to the CSK For IPL 2024. The 20-year-old from Meerut is known for his all-round skills and has already made his first-class debut with Uttar Pradesh.

The biggest moment of Sameer Rizvi has arrived after a long financial struggle of the Rizvi household. Sameer's father Haseen has not been able to work owing to poor health. Now the physically fragile yet proud dad can afford to smile. After all, the son will be able to afford best medical treatment for his father, who suffered a brain haemorrhage three years ago.

"We were expecting Sameer to get picked by some team in the auction. But we never expected this big money or CSK to bid for him. Sameer has a lot of ambitions - buying a good house, proper treatment of his father and a lot of things like that. Allah dua kare, he can meet all of that. Sameer is quite thrilled that he can finally have a meeting with (MS) Dhoni bhai from close quarters and share space with him," a delighted Akhtar said.

Rizvi too shared his excitement about the chance to play for the Super Kings but admitted that he was nervous when his name came up in the auction.

"I noticed that 4-5 players before me went unsold. I was nervous at that time. But he (Dhoni) has always been my idol. I am very excited, yet nervous about the prospect of meeting him. I have never seen him in front of my eyes," Rizvi told the Jio Cinema.

Rizvi was sceptical of getting an IPL contract once he missed trials with a few teams because of his state commitments. "I told him don't worry and the opportunity will come to you. You keep performing on the field. SG (Sanspareils Greenlands, the cricket gear manufacturer) helped him a lot through sponsorship of equipments."

The uncle doesn't want his nephew to just make waves donning 'Canary Yellow' but realise his ultimate goal of wearing the 'India Blue'.

"Now, we are happy that our efforts have borne fruits, and finally it (IPL contract) has come his way. There are tears in the eyes of everyone at home. Hopefully, he will go and play for India one day," said Akhtar, who is also his childhood coach at the Gandhi Bagh Cricket Academy.