In a high-stakes tactical shift that may define their IPL 2025 campaign, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) promoted Nitish Rana to No. 3 in their batting order, and the move paid off instantly. The left-hander responded with a blistering 21-ball fifty against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Guwahati, delivering a performance that could reset RR’s early-season fortunes.
Rana’s Return to Familiar Territory
Before the match, Rana was under pressure, having struggled in the No. 4 role during RR’s first two outings this season. But with his promotion to No. 3—a position where he had earlier played 32 innings and scored six fifties—Rana looked completely at home. The timing, strokeplay, and aggressive intent were vintage Rana, as he tore into CSK’s bowlers and rapidly pushed the team’s score past 80 inside nine overs.
He was eventually dismissed for 81 off 35 balls, but not before laying the perfect platform for a competitive RR total of 182/9.
Riyan Parag’s Return to No. 4: The Other Key Change
Alongside Rana’s rise, Riyan Parag was restored to No. 4, the position where he had enjoyed a breakout IPL 2024, scoring 573 runs at an average of 52.09 and a strike rate of nearly 150. In the first two matches of IPL 2025, Parag was pushed to No. 3 but couldn’t replicate last season’s form.
Recognizing the imbalance, RR management wisely reverted to their proven 2024 batting blueprint, reinstating Parag’s comfort zone while leveraging Rana’s strength at No. 3.
Tactical Layers to the Reshuffle
The change also achieved better left-right batting dynamics. With Yashasvi Jaiswal opening, promoting left-handed Rana to No. 3 ensured that CSK’s bowling plans were constantly disrupted. The reshuffle showed RR’s growing maturity in in-game adaptability and understanding of player roles.
A Formula for Future Success?
If this approach continues to yield results, Nitish Rana at No. 3 and Riyan Parag at No. 4 could become one of the more reliable middle-order pairings in IPL 2025. The early season adjustments may appear subtle, but the impact is already visible.
For RR, who are eyeing their first title since 2008, this calculated return to what worked in the past could prove pivotal in building consistency and momentum this season.
RR Get the Balance Right
The Nitish Rana No. 3 experiment isn’t just a quick fix—it’s a data-driven decision grounded in past success, and it may be just what RR needed to get their IPL 2025 campaign on track. With Rana firing and Parag back in his prime position, Rajasthan Royals now have a stronger, more fluid batting engine to drive their playoff ambitions forward.
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