How Samir Rizvi accepted Axar Patel’s “challenge” and took advantage of his moment | Cricket News –

New Delhi: “Tayyar rahio, ek challenge aane wala hai”That was Axar Patel’s message to Samir Rizvi ahead of IPL 2026. What Rizvi didn’t know then was how quickly that challenge would arrive – or how decisive his power over it would be.

When that happened, the 22-year-old made a statement.Chasing 142 against Lucknow Super Giants, Rizvi came on at number four and produced an unbeaten 70 off 47 balls, to lead Delhi Capitals to a six-wicket win. He was thrown into a ring of fire, with his UP teammate Mohsin Khan and the rest of the LSG battery making life difficult for the batsmen. But Rizvi weathered the early storm before settling into his comfort zone and rushing to take control.‘no. 4 is his favorite positionRizvi’s comfort in this position is not surprising. He entered IPL 2026 on the back of consistent domestic form – 491 runs in the UP T20 League, where he finished fourth in first place.“I am comfortable batting at No. 4. I wanted to bat at her place and the coach had told me earlier that I would bowl at No. 4 and they would support me,” he said. “He asked me to play my natural game and stay positive,” Rizvi told reporters after the match.

Axar’s reminder before DC’s season opener was an affirmation of the trust management has placed in him.According to his uncle and formative coach, Tankip Akhtar, Rizvi enjoys batting at number four, with time in the middle being key to his game.“Tujhe 4 pe batting karne hai. Tayyar rehna [You have to bat at No. 4. Be ready]. “This is what Axar Patel told him,” Akhtar tells Timesofindia.com. “He was so happy. No. 4 is his favorite batting position.

When he called me, he was very happy and said, ‘That was great, Mamo’].”

“Even last year, in the final, he played a good knock – and scored 58 runs to help Delhi win. That’s where it all started for him. Against LSG too, he played a very good knock. The only change was that he needed time at the crease, and Axar gave him that time yesterday. Once he got time to settle on the wicket, he batted really well. He was happy,” he added.“Mamo, you’ll see – I’ll play well this time.”Rizvi was the second highest run-getter in the UP T20 League, with an average of 61.38 and a batting average of 161.51. He continued his rich run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 238 runs at an average of 59.50.Back home in Meerut, his preparation for IPL 2026 has been intense and methodical.“When he is in Meerut, he bats for three hours on the middle wicket. Everyone has become accustomed to preparing him for the Indian Premier League.

He has worked extremely hard this season. I am sure he will continue to play match-winning knocks this season. As he was leaving, he just said: “Mamo, you’ll see – I’ll play well this time.”“8 Crores is 20 Lakh – Cricket Khalna Hai Pass”Rizvi’s IPL journey has already taken sharp turns. Picked up by Chennai Super Kings for Rs 8.40 crore in 2024, he has struggled to convert his opportunities and has only managed 51 runs in eight matches.He was released the following season – a move that raised eyebrows and brought with it an inevitable drop in rating. Delhi Capitals picked him for Rs 95 lakh. Such a huge drop in price could have easily upset the young man, but as Akhtar says, for Radhi, it was always about playing the game, not the price associated with it.“Dekhiye bura bahot lagta hai but 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 never talks about price. He used to say whether the base price is Rs 8 crore or Rs 20 lakh, he just wants to play cricket, irrespective of the IPL team,” says Akhtar.In 2025, after starting in the playing XI for the initial matches, he lost his place to the likes of Abhishek Porel and Ashutosh Sharma, and eventually managed just five matches for the entire season – scoring 121 runs at 40.33 and batting at 153.16, including a fifty in the final match for the capital.Make an impact But this year, as an influential substitute, Rizvi made his mark by winning the match in the first match itself. He is now hoping for a consistent performance – something Akhtar also believes is within reach.“Mauka bahut kamila tha usko CSK mein [He didn’t get many opportunities at CSK]. “Even in the Indian Premier League now, this was only his second or third chance, and he played a very good innings,” says Akhtar, adding that the CSK stint helped Rizvi develop as a cricketer. “He learned a lot from MS Dhoni – his approach to the game and his thinking evolved. But when Dhoni stepped down as captain, everything changed. I even asked him about opportunities or moving up the batting order. He said the captaincy is different now. He didn’t get enough chances, that’s all,” Akhtar recalls.

At DC, Rizvi seems to have found the perfect support system – a leader he trusts and a great professional he can rely on.“Axar has supported him a lot. He treats him like an elder brother. He also spends time with KL Rahul. He has told him one thing: ‘Focus on your goal,'” says Akhtar about the DC setup.From quiet pre-season preparation to taking on the challenge head-on, Rizvi has shown early signs that he can seize the opportunity in his third year in the ISL.