The Rajasthan Royals have bolstered their squad with the late-season addition of South African wicketkeeper-batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius. The 19-year-old joins the 2008 IPL champions as a replacement for the injured Nitish Rana ahead of their twelfth match of this IPL season. The official confirmation of the signing came from the IPL earlier today.
Pretorius has been signed at his base price of Rs 30 lakh. This move comes after Nitish Rana was sidelined and missed the Royals’ previous encounter against the Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on May 4th, a match where local talent Kunal Singh Rathore filled the void.
Luhan-dre-Pretorius a young talent
Lhuan-dre Pretorius has garnered attention as a highly promising young talent, particularly known for his aggressive batting style at the top of the order. While he is yet to make his senior international debut for South Africa, his performances in the recent SA20 2024-25 season have been impressive. Playing for Paarl Royals, the 19-year-old amassed 397 runs at a striking strike rate exceeding 160, showcasing his potential as a dynamic batter.
While the Rajasthan Royals currently sit low in the IPL 2025 standings with only three wins from their twelve matches, this signing appears to have an eye on the future.
Change in rules
This late-season replacement is made possible by a recent rule change in the IPL 2025. Previously, franchises could only sign replacements until their seventh match. However, this window has been extended to the conclusion of the 12th match, allowing teams more flexibility in managing injuries and squad composition.
Furthermore, the new regulations also permit franchises to extend the contracts of these replacement players into the subsequent season. Teams also retain the option to bring back their originally contracted player, provided they adhere to the overall purse limitations and the stipulated limits on both domestic and overseas players.