Days before the end of the TATA IPL 2025, Rajasthan Royals (RR) has signed former left-arm South African fast bowler Nandre Burger as an injury replacement for the long-time Indian pacer Sandeep Sharma, the signing was announced in an IPL media advisory on May 8, 2025, during the last phase of the tournament, to make for an interesting twist in RR’s campaign as they finish the last leg of the competition.
Burger joins the franchise for INR 3.5 Crore and fans may remember that this is not Burger’s first stint with the Royals, where he played in the 2024 season with notable performances, taking 7 wickets in 6 games. His return could give the Royals a much-needed left-arm pace option and overall pace variety, especially after the unfortunate injury to Sandeep Sharma.
Sandeep Sharma’s Injury Hurt RR’s Form
Sandeep Sharma is one of the most consistently performing domestic fast bowlers in the IPL and was a valued bowler for RR throughout the entirety of the 2025 season. In his 10 matches this year, he provided RR with 9 wickets, bowled with discipline during the power play, and provided closure at the death. Sandeep’s ability to bowl fast and swing the ball still gives RR positive hope, and his management must now look forward to the playoffs without Sandeep.
The finger injury — details of which he has not gone public — has sidelined him for the rest of the tournament. Although Sandeep has suffered injuries in the past, the team management and fans alike may be most disappointed given the quality of his performances, with RR considering a playoff run.
Who is Nandre Burger?
In case you don’t know him, Nandre Burger is an emerging South African fast bowler, who bowls left-handed. He bowls aggressively and is relatively quick and smooth. Swimming regularly over 140 km/h, he has been in the national system and was recognized in T20 leagues around the world.
Profile Overview:
Full Name: Nandre Burger
Age: 29
Style: Left-arm fast bowler
Previous IPL: RR (IPL 2024)
IPL 2024 Stats: 6 matches, 7 wickets
T20 Career – recognized for pace, bounce and strike ability
With the ease he creates bounce/swing, and the significance of left-arm pacers in Indian conditions that often provide advantages, he is a valuable franchise player.
Contract details and value
Nandre Burger was signed for a cool INR 3.5 Crore – a sign of confidence from the franchise. You can pay this premium because in such an intense tournament like IPL which leaves tons of contested scenarios per over; franchises naturally pay a premium for experienced specialist bowlers to cover gaps tactically.
With some teams able to replace injured players mid-season, this decision was clearly part of RR’s aim to ensure a well-rounded and formidable bowling line-up going into the later rounds.
Strategic impact on Rajasthan Royals
1. Left-arm variation.
The inclusion of Burger provides an important left-arm option for RR. Most of their normal pace options, (including Trent Boult if available), and Avesh Khan and Navdeep Saini are right-armers. A left-armer helps create different trajectories when bowling, especially with the new ball.
2. Powerplay option.
With the addition of pace and bounce, Burger could possibly replace the role of Sandeep in the powerplay overs. He has demonstrated that he can take early wickets, which will be important for breaking opposition momentum.
3. Perfect fit for Jaipur.
Sawai Mansingh Stadium where RR play has good pace and carry; perfect conditions for any bowler, particularly one like Burger.
What This Means for RR’s Playoff Push
As we approach the final stages of IPL 2025, Rajasthan Royals are still firmly in playoff contention. Losing a consistent performer in Sandeep Sharma could have thrown out the teams mojo, so to react quickly and replace him with a like for like bowler in international pacer Nandre Burger, shows intent and an adaptable mindset from the management.
In what has been a mixed season for Rajasthan Royals, some fantastic wins and the sting of close loses. The potential signing of Burger could re-energize their bowling unit at an ideal moment.
Reactions from Fans and Analysts
Social media has been a bit mixed since his signing was reported but for the most part positive.
Fans overwhelmingly welcomed the return of Burger by recalling how well he bowled for them in 2024.
Analysts praised the franchise for bringing in a replacement who is like for like and can easily slot into the team this season.
Some users did have health concerns over Sandeep Sharma being injury prone, but for most people, they regarded Burger as a strong, able replacement.
The hashtag #BurgerReturns trended on X (formerly called Twitter) for a brief moment to signify people’s excitement with Burger’s comeback.
What Can RR Expect from Burger This Season
RR fans can expect Nandre Burger to:
Play during powerplay overs and the death overs.
Bowl short aggressive spells in search of getting early breakthroughs
Rotate in and out of the team based on pitch conditions and the strength of the opposition.
If RR gets to the playoffs, Burger will be playing under pressure situations and high stake matches, which won’t faze him because of his experience from being in domestic and global T20 leagues, so adaptation from one game to the next will not be an issue.
Final Thoughts
In a tournament like the IPL, injuries and scope to change selections are to be expected. But how a team deals with adversity often dictates how far you will go and the Rajasthan Royals’ decision to bring Burger back to replace Sandeep Sharma is a very smart and well timed decision.
With the playoffs in establishment, every call is made at a time when every decision will matter in getting to the IPL trophy and RR has made a gutsy but calculated decision in reintroducing a bowler who has knowledge of the set-up and has already proved his worth to the franchise.
If Burger can hit the ground running and provide impactful and meaningful spells, he could just be the X-factor that RR need to chase the coveted IPL trophy.
As the Royals strive for the closing stages of IPL 2025, we will keep our eyes on Nandre Burger. Ready to fire once again in the pink and gold.
