- 20 May, 2026
Trades in IPL are nothing new. Teams swap players every season. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it does not. This year, the biggest buzz was around Sanju Samson. The Kerala star was moving from Rajasthan Royals. Everyone expected him to land in Delhi. But that did not happen.
The trade fell through. Instead of Samson, DC held on to a young uncapped batter. The player is Sameer Rizvi. Not many expected much from him. But guess what? He is now the star of the season. All helped DC to win games, due to which they are unbeaten. And Samson is struggling at CSK.
This is the story of Sameer Rizvi over Sanju Samson trade. How DC made a brave call. How Rizvi repaid that faith. And how Samson is finding life tough in yellow. Let us cover this in today’s Khelstake story.
The trade window was busy before IPL 2026. Sanju Samson wanted to leave RR. He had spent 13 seasons there. CSK was interested. But DC was also in the race. According to sources, DC and RR had serious talks.
RR was willing to let Samson go. But they wanted a good bargain. The deal on the table was Tristan Stubbs plus another uncapped Indian batter. That uncapped name was Sameer Rizvi.
DC refused. They were not ready to let Rizvi go. Even if it meant losing a big name like Samson. The talks collapsed. Samson went to CSK. Rizvi stayed in Delhi.
At that time, many questioned DC’s decision. Rizvi did not play many games last season. Also, he scored very few runs. Nothing spectacular. But DC saw something in him. They picked him in the mega auction for just INR 95 lakh. They backed him. And now that decision is paying off.
Two matches into the season. Two different stories for these two players. Let us compare.
Sameer Rizvi’s Top Class
Rizvi is showing why DC trusted him. He walked in under pressure in both games. And he delivered.
First match against LSG, DC was 26 for 4. Here, the player came. He built the innings and helped the team to grab the victory.
Second match against MI. DC was 7 for 2, chasing 163. Rizvi smashed 90 off 51 balls. Seven fours and seven sixes. He missed a century but got a standing ovation.
Here are his scores this season:
He got POTM in both matches. Leading the scoreboard. Also, the DC’s batting. .
| TEAM | P | W | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| PBKS | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| RCB | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| RR | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| DC | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| SRH | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| MI | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| LSG | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| KKR | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| GT | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| CSK | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Sanju Samson’s Poor Show
Now, let us talk about the other side. Sanju Samson. The hero of the T20 World Cup. The batter everyone wanted. He joined CSK with huge expectations. But so far, it has been a struggle.
Three matches. Three low scores. Overall, he could manage only 22 runs this season. CSK had big hopes with him, but till now he is failed to stand on that. The runs are not coming. The pressure is building.
This contrast is hard to ignore. One player is flying. The other is falling.
Scrolling through timeline ❌
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) April 5, 2026
Becoming the timeline ✅ pic.twitter.com/l2ygIGjQbB
In elite company 🔥 pic.twitter.com/cCkcuLfOAD
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) April 5, 2026
Rizvi is not just hitting sixes. The player is showing the skills and smart gameplay. His batting has a method.
That preparation of years is visible now.
As the tournament progresses, teams will be looking to build momentum and strengthen their chances of lifting the trophy. In fact, if you’re wondering which side has the best shot at going all the way this season, check out our detailed analysis on why Royal Challengers Bengaluru could successfully defend their IPL title. It gives deeper insights into their squad strength, key players, and winning strategy for IPL 2026.
DC took a bold call. They chose an uncapped player over a match-winner. Sameer Rizvi over Sanju Samson trade looked risky at first. However, the results are in DC’s favor.
Rizvi is playing brilliantly this season. He scored big runs. Conversely, Samson failed till now. The season is long. Things can change. But right now, DC’s bet on Rizvi is paying off in gold.
For more such stories, keep following Khelstake.
Ans. DC refused to trade Rizvi to RR in exchange for Sanju Samson. RR wanted Rizvi and Stubbs. DC said no.
Ans. He is a technical player. Also, he has a variety of shots.
Ans. A new team and atmosphere. Also, the combined team failure can be a reason.
Ans. Just open the platform, register, and check all match scores and updates.