Nitish Rana Eyes Delhi Return After Disappointing Uttar Pradesh Stint

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

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

Rana, a former captain of Delhi, 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 confirmed, "Yes, he will be playing for Delhi this season. I had advised him against leaving back then. His season with Uttar Pradesh wasn't particularly successful. Professional cricketers face immense pressure."

Bharadwaj believes this is a strategic move for Rana: "It's a wise decision for him to return to Delhi. He developed his cricket career here, starting from the age-group level. He even received his first call-up to the Indian national team while representing Delhi. It's a smart move." Bharadwaj has played a significant role in shaping the careers of prominent cricketers like Gautam Gambhir, Amit Mishra, Joginder Sharma, Unmukt Chand, and Priyansh Arya.

Rana experienced a rather unremarkable 2024-25 domestic season with Uttar Pradesh. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he only scored 111 runs across nine matches. He participated in just two List A matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, managing a mere 17 runs before being dropped. His performance in the Ranji Trophy was also disappointing, leading to his exclusion from the team after scoring only 150 runs in four games.

While his return doesn't automatically guarantee him a spot in the Delhi side, Rana will 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 isn't a dumping ground. When he requested the No Objection Certificate (NOC) in 2023, we urged him to stay and represent Delhi." The source added, "He will have to earn his place. There's no assurance that he'll get an immediate opportunity."

Rana also had a disappointing IPL 2025 season with the Rajasthan Royals, who acquired him for a substantial Rs 4.20 crore in the auction. He only managed to score 217 runs in 11 innings for the Royals.

It remains to be seen how Rana will be welcomed back into the Delhi setup, particularly given his heated argument with Delhi captain Ayush Badoni during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarterfinals last year. The umpires had to intervene and separate the two players as tensions escalated.