Rajasthan Royals have become the latest team to sign a late-season replacement. The 2008 champions have brought in South Africa’s Lhuan-dre Pretorius as a replacement for the injured Nitish Rana ahead of their 12th match in IPL 2025. The IPL confirmed the replacement in a statement on Thursday, 8 May.

The 19-year-old Lhuan-dre has joined Rajasthan Royals at his base price of Rs 30 lakh.

Nitish Rana missed Rajasthan Royals’ last IPL 2025 match against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on 4 May. Rajasthan fielded Kunal Singh Rathore, a local talent, in that game.

Lhuan-dre Pretorius is regarded as one of the most promising wicketkeeper-batters, known for his aggressive approach at the top of the order. The 19-year-old is yet to make his debut for South Africa at senior international level.

Lhuan-dre made his mark during the SA20 2024-25 season, scoring 397 runs for Paarl Royals at a strike rate of over 160. Rajasthan have signed him with one eye on the next season, as the former champions are already out of the play-offs race with just three wins from 12 matches this season.

More teams have shown a willingness to sign replacement players following the rule change in IPL 2025. Previously, teams were only allowed to sign replacements until their seventh match of the season. However, the IPL has extended this period until the conclusion of the 12th match.

Franchises can also extend the contracts of replacement players into the following season. Additionally, they retain the option to keep the originally contracted player, provided they adhere to the total mandated purse and the limit on domestic and overseas players.

Delhi Capitals, on Wednesday, signed Sediq Atal as a replacement for Harry Brook, who withdrew from IPL 2025 before the season began. CSK, meanwhile, have embarked on a replacement spree, bringing in the likes of Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, and Urvil Patel to strengthen their batting, with an eye on the next season.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru also roped in Mayank Agarwal as a replacement for the injured Devdutt Padikkal.

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