Nitish Rana Eyes Delhi Return After Disappointing Stint in Uttar Pradesh

Nitish Rana, the 31-year-old cricketer, is likely to return to Delhi for the upcoming domestic season after spending two years with Uttar Pradesh.

Nitish Rana showcasing his skills during an IPL match.

Rana, a former Delhi captain, had initially made the move to UP in 2023. His childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, shared his thoughts with TimesofIndia.com, stating, "Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai (Nothing comes close to your home)." Bharadwaj confirmed Rana's return, adding, "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, emphasizing that Delhi is where he developed his cricketing foundation. "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 said. 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 participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was limited to two matches, where he scored just 17 runs. Consequently, he was dropped 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 guarantee him a spot in the team, Rana is expected to participate in the second season of the Delhi Premier League (DPL), which will feature eight teams.

A source familiar with the situation stated, "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 IPL 2025 for the Rajasthan Royals was also subpar. Despite being bought for a significant sum of Rs 4.20 crore, he managed only 217 runs in 11 innings.

It remains to be seen how Rana will be received back into the Delhi setup, 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 after a heated exchange.