Michael Hussey, the batting coach for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), believes that Sameer Rizvi has the potential to take over the middle-order position left open by Ambati Rayudu’s exit. Rayudu was instrumental as a power hitter for the team, utilizing the batting lineup’s depth and aggressively scoring from the start to give the team a crucial push during the middle overs.
Rayudu shifted from opening to a middle-order role, a position he maintained until his last match in Indian cricket, which was the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) final. The right-handed batsman, known for making significant contributions during run chases, played a pivotal short innings of 19 runs from just eight balls in this match, contributing to CSK securing their fifth championship.
It’s exciting to see how far he can go– Michael Hussey on Sameer Rizvi
Hussey believes Rizvi has the capability to replicate Rayudu’s impact but is uncertain about the speed at which he’ll adjust to such a demanding role. Speaking at the inauguration of the Pavit Singh Nayar Memorial All India inter-college T20 cricket tournament, Michael Hussey said,
“Most definitely. I think he can definitely play that role. I mean Ambati Rayudu is someone that has so much experience and he’s played for so long. So, he’s a seasoned campaigner, whereas Rizvi is just starting out in his IPL career. So, we can’t expect Rizvi to be doing exactly what Rayudu has been doing for so many years. But, of course, we can start developing him and he’s got a lot of natural ability. So, it’s exciting. It’s exciting to see how far he can go,”
At the IPL 2024 mini-auction, Sameer Rizvi emerged as one of the most unexpected picks. Despite having played only a few first-class and List-A games, the 20-year-old was secured by the defending champions for ₹8.40 crore. Given his reputation for effectively handling spin bowling, positioning him in the middle order appears to be a strategic move for the young player.
He’s obviously a natural striker of the ball- Michael Hussey on Sameer Rizvi
As a member of the CSK coaching team, Michael Hussey has played a significant role in nurturing talents like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube recently. Under the guidance of the former Australian batsman, Sameer Rizvi too has the opportunity to flourish as he gears up for the most significant challenge of his young cricket career.
“Well, I think (he’ll bat) somewhere in the middle-order. He’s obviously a natural striker of the ball. I only saw him for the first time yesterday (Sunday). He looks like a very talented young prospect. So, I’m looking forward to working with him personally and just helping him improve his game, obviously for this tournament, but also for the years moving forward. One thing, we want him to do well in this IPL, but there’s much more years left in his career,” Michael Hussey said.
Despite not having an outstanding season with Uttar Pradesh in the 2024 Ranji Trophy, Sameer Rizvi’s proficiency in white-ball cricket suggests he could make a significant impact in the upcoming IPL season. His skills seem well-suited for the shorter format, making him a player to watch.