Rajasthan Royals Sign Lhuan-dre Pretorius as Replacement for Injured Nitish Rana in IPL 2025
Rajasthan Royals Make Key Player Change
New Delhi [India] - On May 8, Rajasthan Royals (RR) announced the signing of South African batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius to fill the spot of the injured Nitish Rana for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
The IPL confirmed this development through an official statement, noting that RR currently holds the ninth position in the standings with three victories and nine defeats, totaling six points, which eliminates them from playoff contention.
According to the IPL's announcement, "Rajasthan Royals (RR) have appointed Lhuan-dre Pretorius as a substitute for Nitish Rana, who is sidelined for the rest of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 due to injury." Pretorius will join the team at a base price of Rs 30 Lakh.
In his 11 matches this season, Rana accumulated 217 runs, averaging 21.70 with a strike rate nearing 162, including two half-centuries, and his highest score being 81 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Pretorius boasts experience in 33 T20 matches, amassing 911 runs at an average of 27.60 and a strike rate of 147.17, featuring six fifties with a top score of 97. He gained recognition during the ICC U19 World Cup last year, where he was South Africa's leading scorer with 287 runs in six games, averaging 57.40 and striking at 94.09, including three half-centuries with a best of 76.
Additionally, he plays for RR's sister franchise, Paarl Royals, in the SA20 league in South Africa. In the 2025 season, he was the top run-scorer with 397 runs in 12 matches, averaging 33.08 and striking at 166.80, with three fifties and a best score of 97.
Rajasthan Royals are set to face Chennai Super Kings (CSK) next at Chepauk Stadium on May 12.