Nitish Rana Eyes Delhi Comeback After Disappointing Uttar Pradesh Stint

Nitish Rana Set for Delhi Return After Uttar Pradesh Stint

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 playing for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

"Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai" (There's no place like home), remarked Sanjay Bharadwaj, Rana's childhood coach, highlighting the emotional significance of this decision. Bharadwaj confirmed to TimesofIndia.com that Rana would indeed represent Delhi this season, recalling his earlier advice against leaving. He noted that Rana's tenure with Uttar Pradesh was not particularly successful, adding to the pressures faced by professional cricketers.

Bharadwaj, who has mentored prominent players like Gautam Gambhir and Amit Mishra, believes this is a strategic move for Rana. He emphasized that Delhi is where Rana developed his cricketing foundation, ultimately earning his first India call-up while representing the city.

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

Nitish Rana praises Starc's exceptional death bowling skills.

Although a spot in the Delhi side isn't guaranteed, the left-handed batsman will participate in the second season of the Delhi Premier League (DPL), which will feature eight teams this year.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Delhi had initially urged Rana to stay when he requested a No Objection Certificate (NOC) in 2023. They emphasized that he would need to earn his place in the team, and there are no immediate assurances of playing time.

Rana's performance in IPL 2025 for the Rajasthan Royals was underwhelming. Despite being acquired for a substantial Rs 4.20 crore in the auction, he only scored 217 runs in 11 matches.

The circumstances of Rana's return to Delhi will be closely observed, especially considering his altercation with Delhi captain Ayush Badoni during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarterfinals last year. The umpires intervened to separate the two players after a heated confrontation.