Nitish Rana, who was a part of the IPL 2024-winning team of Kolkata Knight Riders, was released by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Later, he was bought by the Rajasthan Royals. The inaugural champions of the Indian Premier League roped in Rana for a good amount of INR 4.2 crores.
However, the Delhi-born middle-order batter could play only two matches in IPL 2024, scoring 42 runs, with an average of 21.00. Earlier in the 2023 edition of the tournament, Rana had a decent run of form with the bat, scoring 413 runs in 14 innings, with a good batting average of 31.77.
With that said, here we’ll have a look at the three reasons why picking Nitish Rana is a better option for RR in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League.
A perfect batting choice in the top order
Rana has been a crucial asset with the bat during his stint with KKR from IPL 2018 to IPL 2024. He has played a crucial role while batting in the top four batting spots, from opening to number four. It also displayed his efficiency in the top order.
While batting at number one to number four, Iyer has scored 1764 runs in 71 innings, hitting 10 half-centuries, with 165 fours and 82 sixes from IPL 2018 to 2024. It makes him a perfect choice for RR coach Rahul Dravid to send him to bat at any spot from number one to number four.
Crucial in the middle-order
Apart from showcasing his brilliance in the top four batting spots, Rana could also prove his worth in the middle, alongside playing the role of an important finisher. Iyer has some decent numbers during his time with the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders from the 2018 edition to the most recent 2024 edition.
While batting at number four to number seven, the 30-year-old has scored 1,304 runs in 52 innings, hitting 7 half-centuries with, 101 fours and 70 sixes. The RR management might also think of deploying Rana to bat in the middle order while keeping the top order intact with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson.
Can play an impactful role in the leadership group
Notably, Rana had also led the KKR in their campaign in the Indian Premier League 2023 edition. He was given charge of the team in the absence of their regular skipper Shreyas Iyer. Under Nitish Rana, KKR won six matches while losing eight of their 14 games throughout the season.
It also transliterated into the fact that Rana could also play an important role in the leadership group of the Rajasthan Royals, assisting the regular skipper Sanju Samson. The management might also think of appointing him as Samson’s deputy or give him a chance to lead the side in Samson’s absence.
Disclaimer: This exclusive news is based on the author’s insights, analysis, and intuition. While reviewing this information, consider the points discussed and form your own conclusions.