Nitish Rana Eyes Delhi Return After Disappointing Uttar Pradesh Stint

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

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

Nitish Rana pictured during his time with the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

"Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai (Nothing comes close to your home)," expressed Sanjay Bharadwaj, Rana's childhood coach, highlighting the emotional pull for the player's return. 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 mentored prominent players like Gautam Gambhir and Amit Mishra.

Rana's performance in the 2024-25 domestic season for Uttar Pradesh was underwhelming. He scored only 111 runs in nine games in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was equally disappointing, with only 17 runs in two List A matches. Consequently, he was dropped from the Ranji Trophy team after managing just 150 runs in four games.

Despite his return, a guaranteed spot in the Delhi side isn't assured. However, the left-handed batsman is expected to participate in the second season of the Delhi Premier League (DPL), which will feature eight teams.

A source close to the situation revealed, "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, "He will have to earn his spot. There is no guarantee that he will get a chance right away."

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

The circumstances of Rana's return to Delhi are noteworthy, especially considering a past 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 during the heated exchange. It remains to be seen how Rana will be integrated back into the Delhi team environment.