Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2025 season has taken another hit. Nitish Rana has been ruled out due to injury. The franchise has brought in young South African batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius as a replacement.
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The decision comes as RR scramble to finish their campaign on a respectable note after being knocked out of playoff contention. Pretorius -- just 19 -- has made waves in domestic T20s but is yet to play for South Africa at the senior level.
The left-hander will join RR for a fee of ₹30 lakh -- stepping into a side that has managed just three wins in 12 games and sits ninth on the table.
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Who is Lhuan-dre Pretorius?
Though uncapped, Pretorius has already caught the eye. He was the top scorer in SA20 2025 -- scoring 397 runs at a strike rate of 166.80 across 12 matches.
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His standout knock -- 97 off 51 balls for Paarl Royals against Sunrisers Eastern Cape -- earned him widespread attention. Pretorius also made a strong impression at the 2024 Under-19 World Cup.
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He finished as South Africa’s highest run-getter. His domestic success led to a contract with Hampshire for the Vitality Blast. This marked his first stint in English county cricket.
How big a blow is Nitish Rana’s exit?
Rana’s absence is a blow -- especially given his two important knocks this season. He smashed a 36-ball 81 against CSK and also a 51 off 28 against DC.
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Unfortunately for RR, those moments have been rare in a disappointing season that sees them out of the playoffs alongside CSK and SRH. RR’s final two matches are against Chennai Super Kings on May 12 in Chennai and Punjab Kings on May 16 in Jaipur.