Nitish Rana, a familiar face in the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) lineup since 2018, is switching allegiances. He will now play for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) after being purchased for ₹4.20 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 25 November.
Rana has been a significant contributor to KKR’s success, playing a key role for the defending IPL champions.
The move to RR represents a substantial pay cut for Rana. His new contract with RR is valued at ₹4.20 crore, almost half of his previous ₹8 crore annual salary with KKR.
In a video released by Rajasthan Royals, Rana spoke about his experience working with Rahul Dravid.
“Sometimes, we create stories in our minds, thinking that if I ask this question, will I be judged? But, in all my time working with him, the common fear many players have—that if they speak to someone, they’ll be judged—was never a concern for me from the very first day.”
Rana also shared details of a conversation he had with Rajasthan Royals’ head coach, Rahul Dravid, who recently led India to a second T20 World Cup victory.
“I just told him that I played under him in my first series and I want to make a comeback to the Indian team. I will need your help because your guidance matters a lot to me. He accepted and said, ‘We will do the hard work. ‘Franchise or tere career ke liye jo possible cheez hogi wo karenge’.”
This translates to: “We will do everything possible for the franchise and your career.”
This conversation highlights Rana’s aspirations for a return to the Indian national team and his belief in Dravid’s mentorship. It underscores the importance of this relationship for Rana’s future career prospects.
This move marks a new chapter for Rana, who has been a consistent performer and key member of KKR since 2018. He will now don the Rajasthan Royals jersey in the IPL 2025 season.
Despite Rana’s consistent contributions to KKR, the team chose not to retain him. They also didn’t actively pursue him during the IPL auction.
KKR’s decision not to exercise their Right to Match (RTM) card, which would have allowed them to retain Rana, surprised many. This unexpected move generated considerable discussion among fans and commentators alike, leaving many to speculate about the reasons behind KKR’s decision.