In a notable update during their underwhelming IPL 2025 season, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) have announced South African pacer Nandre Burger as the injury replacement for seasoned Indian bowler Sandeep Sharma, who has been sidelined with a finger injury. The announcement was made public by the franchise as part of their mid-season squad changes.
Sandeep Sharma, a dependable member of Rajasthan Royals’ bowling attack, picked up a finger injury after playing 10 matches this season. To fill the gap in their pace lineup, the franchise has turned to a familiar name — Nandre Burger, who made a mark for RR in IPL 2024 by taking 7 wickets in just 6 games.
Nandre Burger’s return marks the second replacement made by RR in a single day, with the team also bringing in 19-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius earlier to fill in for the injured Nitish Rana. The franchise has confirmed that Burger will rejoin them for a fee of INR 3.5 crore, as stated in the official IPL press release:
“Rajasthan Royals (RR) have signed South African left-arm pacer Nandre Burger as a replacement for the injured Sandeep Sharma for the remainder of the IPL 2025 season. Burger, who represented RR in IPL 2024 and claimed 7 wickets in 6 matches, returns to the squad at a contract value of INR 3.5 crore.”
A Hopeful Return Amid a Tumultuous Season
The comeback provides Burger with an opportunity to make a fresh impact in a struggling RR side. His knack for extracting bounce and delivering with pace makes him a valuable addition as RR aim to restore some pride in their final matches of the season.
However, the return of Nandre Burger comes at a challenging time for Rajasthan Royals. The team — who were the second side to be eliminated from the IPL 2025 playoff race — currently sit at 9th place in the standings. After playing 12 matches, the Royals have managed to win only 3 games, while losing 9, making this one of their poorest seasons in recent memory.
Remaining Fixtures and Focus
With only two matches left in the league stage, RR’s next challenge will be against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The two teams are set to face off in Match 63 of IPL 2025 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on May 12.
While the Royals are out of the race for the playoffs, they will be aiming to finish the season on a high, disrupt the plans of higher-placed teams, and test the potential of their new additions. For players like Nandre Burger, these remaining games offer a platform to prove their mettle and secure their place for future seasons.
Conclusion
The inclusion of Nandre Burger signals RR’s intent to regroup and assess talent even in the face of elimination. With just two matches to go, all eyes will be on the South African speedster as he aims to make a mark in his second stint with the franchise. For the Royals, the focus now shifts from qualification to experimentation and pride, as they seek to end their campaign on a strong note.
