Delhi Capitals batter Sameer Rizvi was named Player of the Match after a fearless 90 powered a six-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Chasing 163, DC found themselves 73/3 at the midway stage, but Rizvi took control by striking seven fours and the same number of sixes in his 51-ball knock, finishing with a strike rate of 176.47. His innings helped Delhi complete the chase with 11 balls remaining, with the left-hander also building key partnerships of 66 and 78—first with Pathum Nissanka (44) and then with David Miller (21 not out).
Rizvi said that the breakthrough was the result of steady work on his game. “Yes, I have worked very hard on myself because since last year there have been many changes. I worked on all my weaknesses, and I used to have some problems against fast bowlers, so I worked a lot on that throughout the year. The hard work is paying off now, I am batting well,” he said after the match.
The impact of Rizvi’s innings was also felt in the numbers. His seven sixes were the joint-most by a Delhi batter against Mumbai Indians in IPL history, while his total represented the third-highest individual score by a player from his team against the five-time champions. Coming in as an Impact Player, Rizvi also became only the third player in IPL history to score more runs in a single innings than him—joining the list of Jos Buttler and Sai Sudharsan, who have managed higher totals in one IPL appearance.
On how he approached his batting, Rizvi explained that he tries to adjust to the match situation rather than stick to a fixed plan. “I always try to play according to the situation. If the situation is changing, then I play accordingly in both innings. At the start, our situation required some time, so I took my time. Then, according to the situation, once I got settled at the wicket, I played my shots and tried to watch the ball till the very end,” he added.
Rizvi further said that performing in the IPL is crucial for confidence and can open up bigger chances. “Yes, this is a very important time for any player because if you score runs and bat well here, you gain confidence. You also get opportunities to move ahead, to play more, and to get chances on bigger platforms. So, it is a very good thing,” he said.
Axar Patel, meanwhile, praised Rizvi for delivering when it mattered and for repeatedly swinging the contest in DC’s favour. “Obviously, when planning happens—when you practice together and play cricket together—Ashu (Ashutosh Sharma) is also batting really well,” Axar said.
He added that the deciding factor is which batter is ready to perform on a given day. “But it’s about which player you need on a particular day. If that player delivers for you at that time, then it’s great. For me, it’s actually a good problem to have, that I have to choose. I think it shows how strong our bench strength is,” Axar said.
Axar also highlighted the need for flexibility in T20 cricket, stressing that adaptability can be decisive as conditions change. “Obviously, in T20 cricket, flexibility is very important—how you approach the game. If you feel you have players who can play freely and adapt anywhere, and when the pitch behaves differently, you can use those players accordingly. So it’s about being open-minded,” he said.
Reflecting on lessons from last season—when DC managed just one win out of five matches in New Delhi—Axar underlined the importance of treating every game as its own challenge. “Basically, I feel taking it one game at a time is very important. When you’re winning continuously, maintaining that momentum is crucial. Because whenever there’s a break and the momentum stops, making a comeback in a tournament like the IPL, which is a long tournament, becomes difficult. So you focus on one game, do well, and then move on without thinking too much about the past,” Axar concluded.
