As IPL 2025 nears the playoffs, Rajasthan Royals (RR) have suffered a major setback with Nitish Rana being ruled out for the rest of the season due to injury. To fill the gap, RR have signed 19-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius as his replacement. Pretorius was signed at his base price of ₹50 lakh and brings an exciting mix of raw talent and international potential.
Who is Lhuan-dre Pretorius?
Lhuan-dre Pretorius is a left-handed wicketkeeper-batter who has quickly risen as one of South Africa’s most promising young talents. Born on March 27, 2006, he made headlines during the ICC U-19 World Cup 2024, where he was South Africa’s top scorer with 287 runs at an impressive average of 57.40. His ability to handle both spin and pace with equal ease caught the attention of scouts around the world.
He made his first-class debut for the Titans against the Warriors in December 2024 and made an immediate impact with a century in his maiden match. Pretorius continued to shine in the SA20 League 2025 while playing for Paarl Royals, scoring 397 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 166.80, finishing as the tournament’s highest run-scorer.
Although RR can no longer qualify for the playoffs, Pretorius’ inclusion could be a move with future planning in mind. RR have two matches left in IPL 2025—against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 12 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai and against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on May 16 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.
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