Recently, Sameer Rizvi, a promising talent of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), made a notable switch in his jersey number, transitioning from his cherished ‘7’ to ‘1’. Rizvi himself disclosed in a video shared by the IPL on their official platform that the influence of MS Dhoni, who has long been synonymous with the number ‘7’ in the CSK lineup, prompted this change.
In the video, Rizvi conveyed his fondness for ‘1’ and his admiration 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.”
Despite not inheriting Dhoni’s iconic number, Rizvi left a remarkable impression in his debut IPL innings against the Gujarat Titans (GT). Displaying impressive composure, the 20-year-old scored 14 runs off just six balls, including two sixes. His contribution proved pivotal as Chennai set a formidable total of 207 runs.
Rizvi expressed his excitement at the opportunity to share the dressing room with his idol, MS Dhoni, after CSK secured him for a significant sum of INR 8.4 crore in the IPL 2024 auction.
“I was genuinely delighted when CSK picked me in the auction. Meeting Dhoni was a dream come true, and playing alongside him was even more fulfilling. Throughout our time together, I participated in numerous practice sessions with Dhoni and the coaching staff. I eagerly absorbed their advice, striving to maximize my learning,” he shared.
