Sameer Rizvi is a 22-year-old right-handed batter from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, who has taken Indian cricket by storm. Known on social media as “India Ka Raina” and the “Right-Handed Suresh Raina”, he shot to national fame when Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bought him for ₹8.40 crore at the IPL 2024 Auction — making him the most expensive uncapped player in IPL history at the time, against a base price of just ₹20 lakh. Trained from age 11 by his maternal uncle Tankeeb Akhtar at Gandhibagh Academy in Meerut, Sameer is now a key finisher for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026, where he currently holds the Orange Cap with 168 runs in 5 innings at a strike rate of 151.35.
His IPL debut on March 26, 2024 against Gujarat Titans told you everything about his character — he faced Rashid Khan, the world’s best T20 spinner, and hit his very first ball in the IPL for a six. Three balls later, he cleared long-off for another. That is who Sameer Rizvi is — fearless, powerful, and born for big moments.
Sameer Rizvi — Wiki & Bio at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sameer Rizvi |
| Nickname | India Ka Raina, Right-Handed Suresh Raina |
| Date of Birth | 6 December 2003 |
| Birthplace | Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Islam |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius ♐ |
| Profession | Cricketer — Right-Handed Batter, Off-Break Bowler |
| IPL Team (2026) | Delhi Capitals |
| Domestic Team | Uttar Pradesh |
| Jersey Number | #1 (changed from #7 out of respect for MS Dhoni) |
| Marital Status | Single / Unmarried |
| @sameer_rizvi_786 (662K+ followers) |
Age, Height & Physical Stats
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age (as of 2026) | 22 Years |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | Approx. 70 kg |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Batting Style | Right-Handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-Arm Off-Break |
| Batting Position | Middle Order (No. 4 to 7), Impact Player |
Early Life & Education
Sameer Rizvi was born on 6 December 2003 in Loiya village, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. His family later moved to the Lal Kurti area of Meerut. His father, Haseen Rizvi (also known as Haseen Lohiya), works as a property dealer. His mother, Ruksana Rizvi, is a homemaker who has been the backbone of the family. Sameer has an elder brother named Afseen Rizvi, two elder sisters — one named Naba Rizvi — and a younger brother.
Cricket came into his life through his maternal uncle, Tankeeb Akhtar, who was himself a cricketer and later a cricket coach. Sameer would visit stadiums to watch his uncle play, and Tankeeb spotted the natural talent early. He pushed Sameer toward serious cricket — a decision that angered Haseen Rizvi, who wanted his son to focus on studies. Before Sameer made his Ranji debut, his father suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2020, which put enormous pressure on the family. Despite this, Sameer kept playing — and kept scoring.
One story that defines Sameer perfectly: in 2011, during a Ranji Trophy match between Uttar Pradesh and Saurashtra, a young Sameer — just seven or eight years old — was watching from the boundary. Suresh Raina, then UP captain, was so impressed by the little boy’s fielding dedication that he walked over and gifted him his sunglasses. That moment became Sameer’s biggest inspiration. Years later, people call him the “Right-Handed Suresh Raina” — a full-circle moment.
“Sameer worked very hard since his childhood to make his dreams come true. Nothing came easy to him.” — Tankeeb Akhtar, Sameer’s uncle and first coach
| Education | Details |
|---|---|
| School | Not publicly known; completed Class 10 exams around age 20 |
| College | Pursuing graduation (details not disclosed) |
| Cricket Academy | Gandhibagh Academy, Meerut (from age 11) |
| First Coach | Tankeeb Akhtar (maternal uncle) |
| Idol | MS Dhoni (changed jersey to #1 in his honour) |
| Inspired by | Suresh Raina gifted sunglasses to young Sameer during a Ranji match |
Domestic Cricket Career
Sameer played for Uttar Pradesh Under-14 from 2014-15 and worked his way through the age-group system — Under-16, Under-19, and eventually the senior Uttar Pradesh side. He also represented India Under-19 in 2019, where he played alongside future stars like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, and Ravi Bishnoi. He learned the craft of hitting big sixes from Rinku Singh, his UP teammate who became a mentor of sorts.
IPL Journey — From CSK to Delhi Capitals
The IPL 2024 auction in Dubai on 19 December 2023 changed Sameer Rizvi’s life overnight. Starting from a base price of ₹20 lakh, a bidding war broke out — and when the hammer finally fell, Chennai Super Kings had paid ₹8.40 crore for an uncapped 20-year-old from Meerut. His house was flooded with reporters, neighbours and a local politician the very next morning. MS Dhoni personally called Sameer to welcome him to the CSK family and told him to “stay calm, play with freedom, and enjoy the game.”
His IPL debut on 26 March 2024 against Gujarat Titans at Chepauk is already folklore. Facing Rashid Khan — the world’s #1 T20 bowler — Sameer hit his very first delivery for a six over square leg. Three balls later, he charged down the pitch and cleared long-off for another. He finished with 14 off 6 balls, but the statement had been made. CSK did not retain him after the season but made an unsuccessful attempt to re-sign him. Delhi Capitals picked him up for ₹95 lakh at the IPL 2025 Mega Auction — the bargain of the tournament.
| Season | Team | Price | Mat | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL 2024 | Chennai Super Kings | ₹8.40 Cr | 8 | 51 | 14 | 10.20 | 118.6 | 0 |
| IPL 2025 | Delhi Capitals | ₹95 Lakh | 5 | 121 | 58* | 40.33 | 153.16 | 1 |
| IPL 2026 | Delhi Capitals | ₹95 Lakh | 5 | 168 | 90 | 42.00 | 151.35 | 2 |
In IPL 2026, Sameer has been extraordinary. Coming in as an Impact Player, he scored an unbeaten 70 off just 45 balls against Lucknow Super Giants when DC were wobbling at 26/4 chasing 142 — and then followed it up with a 90 off 51 balls against Mumbai Indians (7 fours, 7 sixes), earning Man of the Match. He is currently the Orange Cap holder in IPL 2026 with 168 runs in 5 innings. His 90 is the 3rd highest score by an Impact Player in IPL history, behind only Sai Sudharsan’s 108* and Jos Buttler’s 107*.
Records & Achievements
| Record / Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| Most Expensive Uncapped IPL Player (2024) | ₹8.40 Crore — CSK, IPL 2024 Auction |
| Fastest Double Century — U23 State A Trophy | 201* off 97 balls vs Tripura (Dec 2024) — 13 fours, 20 sixes |
| Fastest Century — UP T20 League 2023 | Century in 47 balls (Kanpur Superstars) |
| Most Sixes — UP T20 League 2023 | 35 sixes in the tournament |
| Most Sixes — U23 State A Trophy 2023 | 37 sixes (tournament record) |
| UP T20 League 2023 | 455 runs in 10 matches, avg 50.56, SR 188.8 |
| U23 State A Trophy captain | Led UP Under-23 to 2023 title — hit 84* off 50 in final |
| 3rd highest Impact Player score in IPL | 90 vs Mumbai Indians, IPL 2026 — behind Sai Sudharsan (108*) and Buttler (107*) |
| Orange Cap holder — IPL 2026 | 168 runs in 5 innings, SR 151.35 (as of April 2026) |
| Successive IPL fifties (Impact Player) | 58* (2025 final match) + 70* + 90 (2026) — 3 consecutive match-winning knocks |
Family & Personal Life
| Family Member | Details |
|---|---|
| Father | Haseen Rizvi (Haseen Lohiya) — Property Dealer, Meerut; suffered brain haemorrhage in 2020 |
| Mother | Ruksana Rizvi — Homemaker; Sameer’s strongest support |
| Elder Brother | Afseen Rizvi |
| Sisters | Two elder sisters; one named Naba Rizvi |
| Maternal Uncle / Coach | Tankeeb Akhtar — former cricketer, Sameer’s first coach at Gandhibagh Academy |
| Girlfriend / Wife | No confirmed relationship — currently single and focused on cricket |
| Hometown | Lal Kurti area, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh |
| Favourite Cricketer | MS Dhoni (changed jersey number to #1 in his honour) |
| Food | Non-Vegetarian; loves biryani |
| Hobbies | Fitness training, travelling, watching cricket |
| Mentor at UP | Rinku Singh — taught him the art of six-hitting |
The story of Sameer’s father deserves a special mention. Haseen Rizvi initially opposed his son’s cricket career, wanting Sameer to focus on education. When Tankeeb Akhtar pushed Sameer toward cricket, it created serious friction at home. Then in 2020 — just before Sameer was set to make his Ranji debut — Haseen suffered a brain haemorrhage. Sameer played through that pain. When CSK paid ₹8.40 crore for his son at the IPL 2024 auction, Haseen told reporters, “The credit goes entirely to Tankeeb bhai. He is the one who made Sameer.”
Net Worth & IPL Salary
| Earning Source | Estimated Amount |
|---|---|
| IPL 2024 Salary (CSK) | ₹8.40 Crore |
| IPL 2025 Salary (DC) | ₹95 Lakh |
| IPL 2026 Salary (DC) | ₹95 Lakh (Retained) |
| Domestic Cricket (BCCI) | Grade C contract + match fees |
| Brand Endorsements | Sports gear, fitness, lifestyle brands |
| Total Net Worth (est. 2026) | ₹10–12 Crore approx. |
Sameer’s financial story is just as dramatic as his cricket story. In December 2023 he was worth nothing in IPL terms — a 20-year-old with no franchise attached. One week later, he was ₹8.40 crore richer on paper. Delhi Capitals then got him for ₹95 lakh — a fraction of his CSK price — and Sameer has repaid that faith spectacularly. With IPL 2026 performances firmly on the national radar and endorsement deals growing, his net worth is estimated at ₹10 to ₹12 crore as of 2026.
Social Media Presence
| Platform | Handle / Details |
|---|---|
| @sameer_rizvi_786 — 662K+ followers; cricket, fitness & personal posts | |
| Twitter / X | Active — match updates and fan interaction |
| YouTube | Match highlights and interview clips available |
Top 5 FAQs About Sameer Rizvi
Sameer Rizvi is a 22-year-old right-handed batter from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh who plays for Delhi Capitals in the IPL and Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket. He became nationally famous when Chennai Super Kings paid ₹8.40 crore for him at the IPL 2024 Auction — making him the most expensive uncapped player in IPL history at the time. On his IPL debut against Gujarat Titans, he hit his very first ball from Rashid Khan for a six. He is nicknamed “India Ka Raina” and the “Right-Handed Suresh Raina” for his aggressive middle-order batting style. In IPL 2026, he is currently the Orange Cap holder with 168 runs in 5 innings.
Sameer Rizvi was born on 6 December 2003 in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. He is 22 years old as of 2026. He grew up in the Lal Kurti area of Meerut and began playing cricket at age 11 at Gandhibagh Academy. His height is 5 ft 10 in (178 cm). He follows Islam and his zodiac sign is Sagittarius. He completed his Class 10 exams around age 20, having prioritised cricket throughout his school years.
Sameer Rizvi has played for two IPL teams. He was bought by Chennai Super Kings for ₹8.40 crore at the IPL 2024 Auction and made his debut on 26 March 2024 against Gujarat Titans, hitting Rashid Khan for a six on his very first ball. CSK did not retain him but tried to re-sign him at a lower price. Delhi Capitals won the bidding and bought him for ₹95 lakh at the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. He scored a match-winning 58* off 25 balls against Punjab Kings to close DC’s 2025 campaign. DC retained him at the same price for IPL 2026, where he is now the Orange Cap holder with scores of 70*, 90, and more.
Sameer Rizvi’s records are remarkable for his age. He scored 201* off 97 balls vs Tripura (Dec 2024) — the fastest double century in U23 State A Trophy history (20 sixes, 13 fours). He hit the fastest century (47 balls) in the 2023 UP T20 League and smashed the most sixes (35) in that tournament. He captained UP Under-23 to the 2023 State A Trophy title. In IPL 2026, his 90 off 51 balls vs Mumbai Indians is the 3rd highest score by an Impact Player in IPL history. He is currently the IPL 2026 Orange Cap holder.
As of 2026, Sameer Rizvi is not in any publicly known relationship. He is unmarried and single, and by his own accounts, completely focused on cricket and making it to the Indian national team. His net worth is estimated at ₹10 to ₹12 crore as of 2026, built from his IPL earnings (₹8.40 crore from CSK alone), Delhi Capitals contracts, domestic cricket fees, and growing brand endorsements. He enjoys fitness training, travelling, and spending time with his family in Meerut.
Sources: Wikipedia, ESPNcricinfo, Delhi Capitals Official, iplt20.com, StarsUnfolded, WikiBio.in, NewsBytes. Stats updated as of April 2026. Net worth figures are estimates only.
