LHUAN-DRE PRETORIUS GETS RAJASTHAN ROYALS IPL CALL-UP

Rajasthan Royals (RR) have named Lhuan-dre Pretorius as a replacement for Nitish Rana, who has been ruled out of the remainder of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 due to injury.

Pretorius has played 33 T20s and scored 911 runs.

The 19-year-old burst on the scene in his maiden Betway SA20 season by topping the competition’s run-charts in Season 3 with 397 runs for the Paarl Royals at a strike-rate of more than 166.81.

He struck four half-centuries with a top score of 97 on debut.

"It's a real dream come true. I'm just trying to be like a sponge and soaking everything in," Pretorius said afterwards.

The teenager was first spotted at the ICC U19 World Cup in South Africa where he was the hosts' highest run-scorer in the tournament last year.

Pretorius' call-up to the Rajasthan Royals after playing for Paarl Royals further strengthens the growing link between the IPL franchises and its Betway SA20 siblings.

The Royals have already secured fellow South African teenage sensation Kwena Maphaka (who played 1st XI cricket for three years alongside Pretorius at St Stithians Boys' College) after also signed up for Rajasthan whilst playing at the Paarl Royals.

Pretorius will join RR for his base price of INR 30 Lakh (approximately R646 500).

Meanwhile, Royals also confirmed the re-signing of Nandre Burger for the injured Sandeep Sharma. Burger, who claimed seven wickets in six matches for Royals last season, missed the majority of the South African summer (including SA20 Season 3 with Joburg Super Kings) with a back injury.