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 poised to make a comeback to Delhi for the upcoming domestic season.

Nitish Rana in action for Rajasthan Royals.

Nitish Rana, a former captain for Delhi, had previously transferred to UP from Delhi back in 2023. His childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, shared with 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 advised him against leaving back then as well. He didn't have a successful season with Uttar Pradesh. As a professional cricketer, the pressure can be immense."

"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," said Bharadwaj.

Bharadwaj has also mentored prominent cricketers such as Gautam Gambhir, Amit Mishra, Joginder Sharma, Unmukt Chand, and Priyansh Arya.

Nitish Rana praises Starc's death bowling prowess.

Rana's performance for Uttar Pradesh during the 2024-25 domestic season was notably 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. His struggles continued in the Ranji Trophy, where he was removed from the 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, the left-handed batsman 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 commented, "This is not a dumping ground. When he requested the No Objection Certificate (NOC) in 2023, we urged him to remain and play for Delhi." The source added, "He will have to earn his place. There is no guarantee that he will get a chance right away."

Rana's IPL 2025 season with the Rajasthan Royals was also disappointing. Despite being acquired for a substantial Rs 4.20 crore in the auction, he only managed 217 runs in 11 appearances for the Royals.

It remains to be seen how Rana will be received within the Delhi squad, especially considering his heated altercation with Delhi captain Ayush Badoni during the quarterfinals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy the previous year. The umpires had to intervene to separate the two players as tensions escalated.