Former CSK star, now set to represent Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025, Sameer Rizvi has been named captain of the U-23 Rest of India squad for the first-ever youth Irani Cup against Col CK Nayudu champion Punjab. The match will take place at I.S. Bindra Stadium in Mohali from March 9-12.
Usually, the Irani Cup is a one-off fixture between the Ranji Trophy champions and the Rest of India team. Following the same format, the BCCI has introduced a youth version, where the U-23 national champions will face top performers from the CK Nayudu tournament.
Not long ago, Rizvi scored a staggering 728 runs in the U-23 State A Trophy in just six innings at an average of 242, making his selection understandable.
The team, announced by the junior cricket committee, also includes UP wicketkeeper-batter Aaradhya Yadav, who, along with Rizvi, delivered outstanding performances in the Col CK Nayudu Trophy this season.
Also, Sarfaraz Khan’s brother, Musheer Khan, was left out as he has not played any matches since his injury and is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy.
Sameer Rizvi Stats
| Format | Matches (Mat) | Innings (Inns) | Not Outs (NO) | Runs | Highest Score (HS) | Average (Ave) | Balls Faced (BF) | Strike Rate (SR) | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Catches (Ct) | Stumpings (St) |
| FC | 9 | 14 | 1 | 152 | 30 | 11.69 | 250 | 60.8 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 0 |
| List A | 14 | 12 | 2 | 358 | 105 | 35.8 | 408 | 87.74 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 18 | 6 | 0 |
| T20s | 28 | 22 | 7 | 480 | 75* | 32 | 360 | 133.33 | 0 | 2 | 35 | 25 | 8 | 0 |
Rest of India squad vs Punjab
Shikhar Mohan, Macneil H. N. (VC), Harshal Ajay Kate, Sameer Rizvi (C), Ayush S. Vartak, Vedant Murkar (WK), Himanshu Singh, Vicky Ostwal, Piyush Dahiya, Ashok Sharma, Jay Malusare, Aaradhya Yadav (WK), Raunak Waghela, Pragnesh Kanpillewar, Prakar Chaturvedi
