Nitish Rana Eyes Delhi Return After Disappointing Uttar Pradesh Stint

Nitish Rana Set to Rejoin Delhi After Two-Year Stint in Uttar Pradesh

Nitish Rana, the 31-year-old cricketer, is poised to make a comeback to Delhi for the upcoming domestic season, two years after his move to Uttar Pradesh.

Nitish Rana showcasing his skills during an IPL match.

"Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai (Nothing comes close to your home)," stated Sanjay Bharadwaj, Rana's childhood coach, highlighting the significance of this return. Bharadwaj confirmed that Rana would indeed be representing Delhi this season. He also mentioned he had previously advised Rana against leaving, adding that the cricketer experienced a challenging season with Uttar Pradesh, where professional cricketers often face immense pressure.

Bharadwaj emphasized the wisdom of Rana's decision to return to Delhi, the place where he developed his game from the age-group level and earned his first call-up to the Indian national team. He believes this move is strategically advantageous for Rana's career. Bharadwaj has played a crucial role in shaping the careers of prominent cricketers such as Gautam Gambhir, Amit Mishra, Joginder Sharma, Unmukt Chand, and Priyansh Arya.

Rana's performance for Uttar Pradesh in the 2024-25 domestic season was notably subpar. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he accumulated a mere 111 runs in nine matches. His participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was limited to two List A matches, where he scored only 17 runs before being dropped. Subsequently, he was removed from the Ranji Trophy team due to a series of low scores, managing only 150 runs in four games.

However, Rana's return to Delhi does not automatically secure him a spot in the team. He is expected to participate in the second season of the Delhi Premier League (DPL), which will feature eight teams this year.

A source familiar with the situation stated, "This is not a dump station. When he asked for the No Objection Certificate (NOC) in 2023, we had requested him to stay and play for Delhi." The source further added that Rana will need to earn his place in the team, with no immediate guarantees of playing time.

Rana's performance in the IPL 2025 for the Rajasthan Royals was also underwhelming, despite being acquired for a substantial sum of Rs 4.20 crore in the auction. He scored only 217 runs in 11 innings for the Royals.

The circumstances of Rana's return to the Delhi unit remain intriguing, particularly given his heated altercation with Delhi captain Ayush Badoni during the quarterfinals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last year. The intensity of the confrontation necessitated intervention from the umpires to separate the two players.