Nitish Rana Poised for Delhi Comeback After Disappointing Uttar Pradesh Stint

After a two-year stint with Uttar Pradesh, Nitish Rana, the 31-year-old cricketer, is expected to represent Delhi in the upcoming domestic season.

Nitish Rana plays for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

Rana, a former Delhi captain, had previously made the switch to UP in 2023. His childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, shared his thoughts with TimesofIndia.com, quoting Rana as saying, "Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai (Nothing comes close to your home)."

Bharadwaj confirmed, "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."

Bharadwaj believes this is a strategic move for Rana. "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," he stated. Bharadwaj has also played a key role in the development of cricketers like Gautam Gambhir, Amit Mishra, Joginder Sharma, Unmukt Chand, and Priyansh Arya.

Rana's performance for Uttar Pradesh in the 2024-25 domestic season was underwhelming. 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, accumulating a mere 17 runs before being dropped. Furthermore, he was removed from the Ranji Trophy team after a series of low scores, managing only 150 runs in four games.

While his return to Delhi doesn't automatically secure him a spot in the team, Rana is slated 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 emphasized that Rana will need to earn his place in the Delhi side. "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 revealed. "He will have to earn his spot. There is no guarantee that he will get a chance right away."

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

The circumstances of Rana's return to the Delhi unit remain to be seen, particularly in light of a previous altercation with Delhi captain Ayush Badoni during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarterfinals last year. The umpires had to intervene to separate the two players after a heated confrontation.