New Delhi, April 4 (NationPress) Sameer Rizvi needed only ten balls to find the boundary on Saturday, as Delhi Capitals chased down a target of 163 against Mumbai Indians. By the conclusion of the match, Rizvi had once again made the outcome seem certain in favor of DC, marking his second consecutive impactful performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

In front of a nearly full crowd at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Rizvi unleashed a remarkable innings of 90 runs from just 51 deliveries, steering DC to a six-wicket triumph over MI with 11 balls remaining. He achieved his fifty in a mere 31 balls, hitting seven sixes and as many boundaries, all on a pitch that had confounded many star players throughout the day.

“In practice, he always maintains a positive attitude. Initially, he would encounter some difficulties, but he believed that if he got off to a good start, he could play a lengthy innings, and that’s precisely what he’s doing. This is fantastic for the team and crucial for our victories,” remarked Delhi Capitals pacer Mukesh Kumar during the post-match press briefing.

The match developed into a thrilling showdown. By the ten-over mark, DC was positioned at 73/3, matching MI's score at the same juncture. The similarities were striking—each team had lost two early wickets, and both faced a significant partnership for the third wicket with the opener falling in the tenth over.

As the game hung in the balance, Rizvi encountered Corbin Bosch in the 11th over. Until that point, he had been cautious, with a subdued strike rate below 100 while his seasoned partner, Pathum Nissanka, took the lead. When Nissanka fell to Mitchell Santner, the match's pivotal moment shifted to young Rizvi, who embraced it wholeheartedly.

A wide delivery was dispatched over mid-off for a boundary. The subsequent ball saw Rizvi expertly adjust his pull shot, ramping it over the wicketkeeper for another four. He then delivered two backbreaking blows to Mumbai: a powerful six over deep point followed by another over long-on, resulting in an explosive 20 runs from that over.

From that instant, the target became a mere formality. Rizvi's innings statistics reveal both his performance and the challenging surface. Against pace bowlers, he accumulated 63 runs off 33 balls at an impressive strike rate of 190.9, while against spinners, he scored 27 runs off 18 balls at a strike rate of 150.

A staggering 70 of his 90 runs came through boundaries. His seven sixes outnumbered Mumbai's entire batting lineup's performance on the same pitch. He favored the off-side for scoring, amassing 52 runs at a strike rate of 200, while 32 runs came from the leg-side and the remaining six runs from straight hits.

Fans were left in awe after his ramp against Bosch, and his back-to-back sixes off Mayank Markande were a visual treat. The first maximum showcased pure hand speed, while the second was a textbook example—quick footwork, a clean swing, and the ball soared over long-on effortlessly.

If Rizvi hadn’t been caught at long-off for 90, he would have been the third Impact Player in IPL history to score a century. While DC celebrated their home victory, it was a disappointing evening for MI, affecting both their batting and bowling units. Rizvi, donning the number seven jersey for DC—a number associated with MS Dhoni—caught the attention of MI pacer Deepak Chahar.

“I believe he has immense potential. When CSK acquired him in the auction, they invested 8 crores, indicating the talent was always present. Now, with experience, he has improved. In the IPL, confidence is key, and every player selected possesses skill,” Chahar commented.

“He’s become more confident, as seen in his recent performances. It’s a valuable lesson for everyone that while skill is essential, confidence is what truly matters. Young players in this tournament should take inspiration from him to build their confidence and contribute to winning matches,” he added.

For Rizvi, this performance is another chapter in a fast-paced and impressive career. Chennai Super Kings invested Rs 8.40 crore for him during the 2024 auction, but the return was minimal before DC acquired him for Rs 95 lakh in the 2025 mega auction. According to CricViz, in his initial eight IPL innings across both teams, he averaged 16.3, with a strike rate of 118 and a highest score of 39.

Now, his last three innings tell a different story: 58 not out, 70 not out, and 90. All unbeaten except the last, each performance surpassing the one before. He had first made waves in the IPL two seasons ago with a six off his debut ball against Rashid Khan, but Saturday's innings against MI suggests that the true unveiling of Rizvi’s exceptional batting abilities is just beginning, and the future appears bright for both him and DC.