Why Has Nitish Rana Replaced Riyan Parag As RR's Number 3 vs CSK?

Nitish Rana vs CSK (Source: AP Photos)

Nitish Rana has been around in IPL since 2016 and has even led KKR in the past. In IPL 2025 though, he is playing for Rajasthan Royals, and after failing in the initial two matches at number 4, he has been promoted to number 3. He has replaced RR's captain Riyan Parag who could not do much at number 3 and the move has worked wonders.

Nitish Rana's Promotion At Number 3 Sinks CSK

The reason for bringing in Nitish Rana at number 3 is that the batter has been successful at that position in the past. Before the CSK game, Rana had 32 innings at number 3 in IPL, and had six fifties in it and now he has added another one to that list. He hit his fifty in just 21 balls and has taken RR off to a flier against CSK. On contrary, Riyan Parag did brilliantly at number 4 in the last season and making him play at that position in this IPL could help him get some runs.

In the last season, Riyan Parag smashed 573 runs at an average of 52.09 and strike-rate of close to 150, and after failure at number 3 in the initial two matches, the management have decided to make him play at the position where he got all the success last year. Also, another reason for Nitish Rana's promotion at number 3 could be that RR wanted to keep the right-hand left-hand combination going after Yashasvi Jaiswal's wicket.

Thus, so far, the move to bring Nitish Rana over Riyan Parag has gone in favour of Rajasthan Royals, and they would be hoping that they kick on and get their first win of the season.

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