‘I wasn’t feeling well’ – Nitish Rana reveals how Rahul Dravid’s call inspired him to deliver vs CSK

In the IPL 2025, Nitish Rana’s match against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will never be forgotten. The hitter disclosed that he was not feeling well the day before the game and missed the practice sessions for the same reason after his team’s exciting six-run victory. But when Rahul Dravid, the head coach, called, he had to put everything else aside and be ready for the big match.

“Those were two crucial points. Rana stated in a video released by RR, “We probably should have had that at the beginning of the tournament, but it’s okay, there were a lot of lessons to be learnt from the first two matches as well, and we could implement those things in this game and take the two points.”

Dravid notified Nitish Rana that he will now bat at No. 3 against CSK, changing his previous batting position.

Notably, the strategy paid off as Rana destroyed the visitors bowling attack, particularly the spinners, and hammered ten boundaries and five sixes in his game-winning knock of 81 off 36 balls.

From feeling unwell to scoring 81 off 36 the next day. Nitish Rana breaks down his knock, our first win & more. pic.twitter.com/2zfgwHrWt6

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) March 31, 2025

“Rahul sir had called me yesterday after I missed practice because I wasn’t feeling too well. He called to tell me that I will be batting at No.3 and I am always ready for these kind of challenges. I enjoy it when someone banks on me and I like taking that responsibility. So when he said that to me I analysed myself the kind of shots I can play on this wicket which will help me and my team. That is what I banked on and when the time comes, the runs come,” said Rana.

“I was trying to do the same in the first two matches as well but the reality is that when you come with your own game plan and give yourself an edge by analysing the game a day before, that helps a lot. It has helped me throughout the year in all kinds of cricket that I have played and I was concentrating on that same process. Finally, it bore fruit,” said Rana.

Riyan Parag, the Royals’ interim captain, was ecstatic to win for the first time this season after dropping their previous two games. “It feels nice. It felt lengthy, even though there were only two games. We seemed to be lacking twenty. In the middle overs, we were doing okay, but we lost a few quick wickets. But we did a great job bowling. The bowlers took the initiative and carried out our group’s ideas. After scoring 280 runs in the first game and failing to defend about 180 in the second, we have had two difficult games. Nitish and I were both present, so we were fortunate to have a few choices in this game,” Parag remarked following the game.