Nitish Rana Set for Delhi Comeback After Disappointing Uttar Pradesh Stint

Nitish Rana Poised for Delhi Return After Uttar Pradesh Stint

After a two-year sojourn with Uttar Pradesh, Nitish Rana, the 31-year-old cricketer, is set to don Delhi colors once again for the upcoming domestic season.

Rana's shift to Uttar Pradesh occurred in 2023, after previously captaining Delhi. His childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, revealed to TimesofIndia.com, "Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai (Nothing comes close to your home)," emphasizing the significance of returning to familiar grounds.

Bharadwaj further elaborated, "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," Bharadwaj added, highlighting Rana's deep roots in Delhi cricket. Bharadwaj has also been instrumental in shaping the careers of prominent cricketers like Gautam Gambhir and Amit Mishra.

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

While his return to Delhi doesn't automatically secure 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.

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 emphasized that Rana will need to earn his place in the team, with no immediate guarantees.

Rana's performance in IPL 2025 for the Rajasthan Royals was also below expectations. Despite being acquired for a substantial Rs 4.20 crore, he only managed to score 217 runs in 11 innings.

The circumstances surrounding Rana's return to the Delhi unit remain intriguing, especially considering his altercation with Delhi captain Ayush Badoni during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarterfinals the previous year. The intensity of the exchange necessitated intervention from the umpires to separate the two players.