Rajasthan Royals (RR), looking to conclude their IPL 2025 campaign on a stronger note despite being out of playoff contention, have announced a significant change to their squad ahead of the final two matches.

Injured Nitish Rana ruled out of IPL 2025

Middle-order batter Nitish Rana has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to an injury.

Rana, the 31-year-old southpaw, who was a notable acquisition for RR at the 2025 auction for INR 4.2 crore, featured in 11 matches this season. He accumulated 217 runs at an average of 21.70, maintaining a dynamic strike rate of 161.94. While he showcased his ability with two half-centuries, including impactful innings against Delhi Capitals (DC) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), his recent form saw a dip with a series of low scores. Rana’s absence was felt in the recent fixture against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where stand-in skipper Riyan parag cited a “niggle” as the reason for his unavailability. Young wicketkeeper-batter Kunal Singh Rathore was handed his IPL debut in that match as a replacement.

With the Royals’ hopes for a playoff berth already extinguished, Rana’s injury adds to the challenges in the season’s concluding phase. The precise nature and severity of Rana’s injury have not been publicly detailed, but the decision to rule him out for the remaining games indicates it is significant enough to prevent his participation.

RR ropes in South African prodigy as Nitish Rana’s replacement

In response to Rana’s unfortunate exit, Rajasthan Royals have looked towards their sister franchise, Paarl Royals, in the SA20 league, securing the services of 19-year-old sensation Lhuan-dre Pretorius. Pretorius arrives with an impressive reputation, having finished as the leading run-scorer in the SA20 2025 season. He amassed a remarkable 397 runs in just 12 innings, striking at an exceptional rate of 166.80. The young left-handed batter, who also keeps wickets, has played a total of 33 T20 matches, scoring 911 runs with a highest score of 97, underlining his potential and aggressive approach at the top of the order.

Pretorius will join the Royals squad at his base price of INR 30 lakh. His inclusion is expected to inject fresh energy and provide a dynamic option in the batting lineup for the remaining matches. For the Royals, who are now focused on finishing the season competitively and assessing their options for the future, Pretorius’ arrival presents an opportunity to evaluate promising young talent under IPL conditions.

The Royals are scheduled to play their next match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on May 12. This will be followed by their final league stage encounter at home against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on May 16. These upcoming fixtures could potentially see Pretorius make his highly anticipated IPL debut.