Nitish Rana Eyes 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 return to Delhi for the upcoming domestic season.

Nitish Rana pictured during his time with the Rajasthan Royals.

Rana, a former Delhi captain, initially made the move to UP in 2023. His childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, shared insights with TimesofIndia.com, quoting Rana's sentiment: "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 return is a strategic move: "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, highlighting his role in shaping the careers of other cricketers like Gautam Gambhir and Amit Mishra.

Rana's performance for Uttar Pradesh in the 2024-25 domestic season was lackluster. He scored only 111 runs in nine Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy games. After only scoring 17 runs in two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches, he was dropped and subsequently removed from the Ranji Trophy team after a series of low scores totaling 150 runs in four games.

While his return to Delhi doesn't automatically secure him a spot in the team, the left-handed batsman 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 have to earn his place. "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 performance in IPL 2025 for the Rajasthan Royals was also underwhelming, managing only 217 runs in 11 outings after being bought for a significant Rs 4.20 crore.

The circumstances surrounding Rana's return to the Delhi unit will be closely watched, especially considering his past altercation with Delhi captain Ayush Badoni during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarterfinals last year, which required intervention from the umpires.