Nitish Rana Eyes Delhi Return After Disappointing Uttar Pradesh Stint

After a two-year period representing Uttar Pradesh, Nitish Rana, the 31-year-old cricketer, is expected to make a return to Delhi for the upcoming domestic season.

Nitish Rana showcases his skills while playing for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

Rana, a former captain of Delhi, initially made the move to UP in 2023. His childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, revealed to TimesofIndia.com, "Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai (There's no place like home)."

Bharadwaj further stated, "Yes, he will be playing for Delhi this season. I had asked him not to move out then also. He didn't have a great season with Uttar Pradesh. As a professional cricketer, you have too much pressure."

"It is a wise decision from him that he is returning to Delhi. This is where he has played all his cricket, right from the age-group level. He even got his first India call-up while playing for Delhi. It is a smart move," added Bharadwaj, who has mentored prominent players such as Gautam Gambhir, Amit Mishra, Joginder Sharma, Unmukt Chand, and Priyansh Arya.

The 2024-25 domestic season proved challenging for Rana while representing Uttar Pradesh. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he only scored 111 runs across nine matches. His participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was limited to two List A matches, where he managed a mere 17 runs before being dropped. After a series of low scores, he was also removed from the Ranji Trophy team, having accumulated just 150 runs in four games.

While his return to Delhi doesn't automatically guarantee him a spot in the team, the left-handed batsman will participate in the second season of the Delhi Premier League (DPL), which will feature eight teams this year.

According to a source familiar with the situation, "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 emphasized, "He will have to earn his spot. There is no guarantee that he will get a chance right away."

Rana's performance in IPL 2025 with the Rajasthan Royals was underwhelming, despite being acquired for a substantial Rs 4.20 crore in the auction. He only managed to score 217 runs in 11 appearances for the Royals.

The circumstances surrounding Rana's return to the Delhi unit are noteworthy, particularly considering his prior heated exchange with Delhi captain Ayush Badoni during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarterfinals last year. Umpires had to intervene to separate the two players as tensions escalated.