Nitish Rana, a batsman for the Rajasthan Royals (RR), will miss the rest of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 because of an injury. For his replacement in the final two games of the season, the team has signed South African batsman-wicketkeeper Lhuan-dre Pretorius.

The Royals have had a disappointing season and are already out of the playoff picture. Their problems have been exacerbated by Rana’s departure as they attempt to salvage some honour in their remaining league stage games against the Punjab Kings on May 16 and the Chennai Super Kings on May 12.

In 11 games this season, the 31-year-old southpaw scored 217 runs with a strike rate of 161.94 for the Royals. Among his two half-centuries was the highest score of 81. With stand-in captain Riyan Parag having already alluded to the player’s injury after he was pulled out of the team against the Kolkata Knight Riders,

Nitish Rana battled with fitness in the second part of the season.

Lhuan-dre from South Africa Pretorius signed on as a substitute.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius, a promising player in the SA20 division for their sister team Paarl Royals, has been selected by RR. Pretorius, a left-handed opening batsman and wicketkeeper, has emerged as one of South Africa’s most exciting young players. He will join the Royals for INR 30 lakh, which is noteworthy.

🇿🇦 Fearless. Power-packed. Royal!

You’ve seen him in Pink — and you’ll see him soon in IPL 2025. 🔥

Lhuan dre Pretorius steps in for Nitish Rana, who’s healing from a calf injury. Speedy recovery, Nitish bhai! 💗 pic.twitter.com/B2JzFUlKZo

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) May 8, 2025

Pretorius drew attention with a 97-run debut at SA20 2025, completing a 132-run partnership with Joe Root. At a strike rate of 166.8, he amassed 397 runs in 12 innings, finishing as the tournament’s leading scorer. With a peak score of 97, he has amassed 911 runs in 33 Twenty20 matches.

The young player also had a strong domestic career, leading South Africa in runs scored at the 2024 U-19 World Cup and scoring a game-winning 114 in the CSA 4-Day Series final. The South African batter might have a chance to make the playing XI in the next game because many Rajasthani batters are having trouble with their form.