Rajasthan Royals announce South Africa's Nandre Burger as Sandeep Sharma's replacement for remainder of IPL 2025

The already-ousted Rajasthan Royals (RR) have been dealt with another setback as their key pacer Sandeep Sharma has been ruled out of the IPL 2025 due to injury. However, the former IPL champions have signed South African left-arm fast bowler Nandre Burger as a replacement for their seasoned campaigner Sandeep Sharma, for the remainder of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The news was officially communicated by the IPL through a media advisory released on Thursday, May 8.

Nandre Burger replaces Sandeep Sharma in RR squad

Sandeep Sharma's continued participation in the tournament has been curtailed due to a finger injury. Prior to this setback, he featured in 10 matches for the Royals in IPL 2025, contributing with nine wickets. Looking at his overall IPL career, Sandeep boasts a notable record, having claimed 146 wickets across 137 matches at an average of 27.87.

"Rajasthan Royals (RR) picked Nandre Burger as an injury replacement for Sandeep Sharma for the remainder of TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025," IPL's statement read.

Nandre Burger, who previously donned the Rajasthan Royals jersey in the 2024 IPL season and secured seven wickets in six appearances, is set to rejoin the franchise for a fee of Rs 3.5 Crore. Having represented South Africa across all formats of the game, Burger also possesses a respectable T20 record, with 77 wickets to his name in 69 matches at an average of 23.44.

Notably, Sandeep took a total of nine wickets for RR in 10 games before being sidelined by a finger injury. Throughout his IPL career spanning 137 matches, Sandeep has picked 146 wickets at an average of 27.87, with an impressive best bowling figure of 5/18.

The left-arm South African pacer had a stint with the Royals in the IPL 2024, where he picked up seven wickets in six games. His return to the 'Pink City' comes at a price of Rs 3.5 crore. Interestingly, Rajasthan had initially acquired him at his base price of Rs 50 lakhs during the previous auction but subsequently released him ahead of the 2025 season, leaving him unsold.

Burger's international experience includes representing the Proteas in all forms of cricket, taking 14 wickets in three Test matches, six wickets in five One Day Internationals, and one wicket in two T20 Internationals. His overall T20 record stands at 77 wickets in 69 matches at an average of 23.44, with a best bowling performance of 3/11.

Earlier in the day, RR also revealed the signing of young South African talent Lhuan-dre Pretorius, a top-order batter, at his base price of Rs 30 Lakh. Pretorius joins the squad as a replacement for the injured Nitish Rana for the remainder of the lucrative league. Pretorius has played in 33 T20 matches, amassing 911 runs at an average of 27.60 and a strike rate of 147.17, including six half-centuries with a highest score of 97. He gained prominence through his stellar performances in the ICC U19 World Cup last year, where he emerged as South Africa's leading run-scorer with 287 runs in six matches at an average of 57.40 and a strike rate of 94.09, featuring three half-centuries.

The Riyan Parag-led RR will next face Chennai Super Kings on May 12 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.