Nitish Rana Set for Delhi Comeback After Disappointing Uttar Pradesh Stint

Nitish Rana Eyes Delhi Return After Uttar Pradesh Stint

Nitish Rana, the 31-year-old cricketer, is reportedly planning a return to Delhi for the upcoming domestic season, two years after he made the move to Uttar Pradesh.

Nitish Rana in action for Rajasthan Royals

Rana, a former Delhi captain, originally left Delhi in 2023 to play for UP. His childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, told TimesofIndia.com, " Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai (Nothing comes close to your home)." He further added, "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, who has mentored players like Gautam Gambhir and Amit Mishra, believes this is a smart 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.

Rana's performance in the 2024-25 domestic season for Uttar Pradesh was lackluster. He only managed 111 runs in nine games in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he played only two List A matches, scoring just 17 runs before being dropped. His Ranji Trophy performance was also poor, with only 150 runs in four games, leading to his exclusion from the team.

While his return to Delhi doesn't guarantee 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.

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 emphasized that Rana will have to earn his place in the team, stating, "He will have to earn his spot. There is no guarantee that he will get a chance right away."

In the recent IPL 2025 season, Nitish Rana played for the Rajasthan Royals, who acquired him for a significant sum of Rs 4.20 crore in the auction. However, he only scored 217 runs in 11 games for the Royals.

The circumstances surrounding Rana's return to Delhi could be interesting, especially considering his 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.