CSK's blue-eyed boy Sameer Rizvi racks up triple century in CK Nayudu Trophy

Chennai Super Kings’ prized possession Sameer Rizvi set the CK Nayudu Trophy quarterfinal clash on fire with a remarkable triple century on February 26. Representing Uttar Pradesh against Saurashtra, Rizvi, who fetched a hefty inR 8.40 crore deal with CSK in the IPL 2024 auction, crafted a masterful 312 off 266 deliveries, embellished with 33 boundaries and 12 maximums. Saurashtra had run out of tricks to tackle the mayhem unleashed by him, until Aditya Sinh Jadeja bowled an out-of-gas Rizvi.

His outstanding performance, coupled with teammate Rituraj Sharma's splendid century (132 off 222), propelled Uttar Pradesh to a commanding 684/6 after 139.2 overs. Opting to bat first, Uttar Pradesh seized the advantage on home turf at Green Park Stadium by launching a relentless assault on the Saurashtra bowlers. Rizvi, emerging as the standout performer, had concluded Day 1 unbeaten with an impressive tally of 134 runs.

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The Uttar Pradesh batter, known for his lightning-fast century in the inaugural UP T20 League, has been making waves in the domestic circuit. With a formidable batting average of 49.16 and a striking strike rate of 134.70 in T20s, his prowess caught the eye of Chennai Super Kings selectors, earning him a coveted spot in their camp. Recently, during the CK Nayudu Trophy, Rizvi's century drew special praise from CSK, highlighting his remarkable talent in the Under-23 arena.

Chennai Super Kings break the bank for UP talent 

The IPL 2024 auctions witnessed a frenzied bidding war for the 20-year-old. Initially pegged at a modest base price of Rs 20 lakh, his all-around skills ignited a fierce contest between Gujarat Titans and CSK, ultimately propelling his value to a staggering Rs 8.40 crore.

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This landmark price tag solidified Rizvi's status as the most expensive uncapped Indian player in the 2024 auction, and underscored his burgeoning potential on the bigger stage in coming years.