Chennai Super Kings (CSK) young talent Sameer Rizvi recently made a significant change in his jersey number, shifting from his beloved ‘7’ to ‘1’. Rizvi himself revealed in a video shared by the IPL on their official platform that MS Dhoni, who has long been associated with the number ‘7’ in the CSK lineup, caused this alteration.
In the video, Rizvi expressed his admiration for ‘1’ and his respect for Dhoni. “I wanted to wear number 7 on my jersey, but it’s Dhoni’s, so I can’t have it. I decided to go with number 1 instead because I like it.”
Rizvi made a notable impact in his maiden IPL innings against the Gujarat Titans (GT). Despite not inheriting Dhoni’s number, the 20-year-old displayed remarkable composure scoring 14 runs off just six balls, including two sixes. His contribution played a crucial role as Chennai posted a formidable total of 207.
Rizvi was elated at the prospect of sharing the dressing room with his idol, MS Dhoni, after CSK acquired him for a substantial sum of INR 8.4 crore in the IPL 2024 auction.
“I was really happy when CSK chose me in the auction. Meeting Dhoni was a dream come true, and playing with him was even better. During our time together, I had many practice sessions with Dhoni and the coaches. I took a lot of advice from them, trying to learn as much as I could,” he added.
Rizvi also shared valuable advice he received from Dhoni. “Bhaiyya(Dhoni) advised me to stick to my natural game. He said, ‘The game remains the same, it’s just about adjusting your mindset at this level. When you go out to bat, focus on the game situation rather than feeling pressured. If you do that, there won’t be any nerves, especially in your debut game,'” Rizvi concluded.
As Chennai Super Kings look towards the future, Rizvi’s promising performance against GT signals a potential shift in the team’s dynamics. With MS Dhoni’s legacy as a finisher well-established over 15 seasons, Rizvi’s emergence as a young talent capable of shouldering that responsibility offers a glimpse of a seamless transition in the CSK lineup.