'I wasn't feeling well' - Nitish Rana reveals how Rahul Dravid's call motivated him to deliver against CSK
"[Dravid] 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," Rana said.
Nitish Rana had an unforgettable game against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025. Following his team's thrilling six-run win, the batter revealed that he was not in his best health a day before the game and missed the practice sessions due to the same reason. However, he received a call from the head coach, Rahul Dravid, which made him put everything behind and prepare for the crucial game.
"Those two points were extremely important. We probably should've got that at the start of the tournament but it's ok, there were lots of learnings to take as well from the first two matches and we could implement those things in this game and take the two points," said Rana in a video posted by RR.
Dravid informed Rana that his batting position had been changed and that he would be promoted to No.3 against CSK. Notably, the move paid off as Rana smashed the visiting bowling attack, especially the spinners, and scored a sensational 81 off 36 balls, hitting ten boundaries and five sixes in his match-winnign knock.
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84"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.
Meanwhile, Royals' stand-in captain Riyan Parag was thrilled with his first win of the season after losing two games in a row. "Feels good. Took some time, it was two games but felt long. Felt we were 20 short. We were going well in the middle overs but lost a couple of quick wickets. But we bowled very well. The bowlers stepped up and executed our collective plans. We have had two tough games, going for 280 and then not being able to defend around 180 in the second game. Luckily had a few options in this game, me and Nitish were also there," Parag said after the match.
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