In a significant development during Match 53 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Rajasthan Royals (RR) handed a debut to young wicketkeeper-batter Kunal Singh Rathore, who replaced the in-form Nitish Rana in the playing XI. The Royals are playing against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Sunday evening, where KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and opted to bat first.
Ahead of the high-stakes encounter, both teams made strategic changes to their lineups. The most prominent talking point was the absence of Nitish Rana, one of RR’s most consistent performers this season. The left-handed batter was ruled out of the match due to a slight niggle, paving the way for 22-year-old Kunal Singh Rathore to step into the limelight.
Kunal Singh Rathore is a promising cricketer from Kota, Rajasthan. The star was acquired by RR at his base price of INR 30 lakhs during the IPL 2025 mega-auction. His inclusion strengthens RR’s wicketkeeping options amid the continued absence of regular skipper Sanju Samson, who remains sidelined due to injury. Rathore now joins Dhruv Jurel as one of two available wicketkeeper-batters in the RR camp.
The left-hander made his T20 debut in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy during the 2022-23 domestic season. He scored 147 runs at an impressive average of 36.75. He followed that up with another steady performance in the 2023-24 season, tallying 107 runs at an average of 35.66. Notably, he has showcased improved aggression and ability to accelerate during the middle overs. In addition to his T20 credentials, Rathore has also featured in 15 first-class matches, scoring 580 runs at an average of 30.52 and a strike rate of 68.88.
Meanwhile, RR made two more changes to their side: Wanindu Hasaranga came in for Kumar Kartikeya, and Yudhvir Singh replaced Fazalhaq Farooqi. On the other side, KKR brought in Moeen Ali, Vaibhav Arora, and Ramandeep Singh for Rovman Powell, Harshit Rana, and Anukul Roy.
The match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals took place at Eden Gardens on Sunday, May 4. Toss duties benefited KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane despite the bandages encasing his right hand as he stepped up for the flip. During the coin toss, KKR obtained the initial right to choose batting after winning the decision. Rajasthan Royals became the only team to field their starting XI together, yet Nitish Rana’s elimination proved to be the most prominent change. This season’s successful left-hand batting leader faces his first absence from matches because of the upcoming game.
Riyan Parag explained during the toss encounter that Rana faces minor injuries which force him to sit out of the playing XI. RR’s batting coach mentioned that Rana appeared to have received a leg injury up until their last Mumbai Indians home fixture and has now been replaced with Kunal Singh Rathore. Rana scored 217 runs across 11 innings for IPL 2025 at an average of 21.70 in his junior season, showcasing two half-centuries in his batting record.
Kunal Singh Rathore, who comes from Kota, started his cricketing journey at the age of 8. He debuted for Rajasthan in 2022 and has since featured in 15 first-class, 16 List A, and 12 T20 encounters for his state. The wicketkeeper-batter made his T20 debut in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) in 2022-23, scoring 147 runs in seven innings at an average of 36.75 and a strike rate of 128.9. In the next edition of the SMAT, he got 107 runs at an average of 35.67, but his strike rate went up to 152.9.
The left-hander mostly bats in the middle order and has done well for his state in the other two formats as well. Kunal, who was bought for INR 30 lakhs at the mega auction for IPL 2025, also featured in the DY Patil T20 Cup earlier this year, where he smashed 109 runs in three innings at an average of 54.5 and a stunning strike rate of 209.6.
Kunal trained under Zubin Bharucha, the Director of High Performance at the Royals. He was also picked by RR in the IPL 2023 auction but didn’t get to play a single game. Kunal is a big fan of Australian wicketkeeper-batter Brad Haddin. RR have already been knocked out of the IPL 2025, while KKR need to win all of their remaining four games to keep themselves alive in the competition.
As Kunal Singh Rathore prepares to don the Royals jersey and step into the IPL spotlight, he isn’t just playing for himself; he’s carrying the hopes of Kota and showing what’s possible with belief and resilience. His journey has been built on patience, hard work, and quiet perseverance rather than overnight stardom. For someone coming from a city not traditionally known for cricketing success, his journey is already a landmark moment.
With the match still ongoing and the stakes high, all eyes will be on Rathore as he makes his debut. Will he rise to the occasion and deliver a performance that sets the tone for his career? Only time will tell as the action unfolds at Eden Gardens.
