Nitish Rana Eyes Delhi Return After Disappointing Two-Year Spell in Uttar Pradesh

After a two-year tenure with Uttar Pradesh, Nitish Rana, the 31-year-old cricketer, is anticipated to return to Delhi for the upcoming domestic season.

Rana, a former Delhi captain, had initially made the move to UP in 2023. His childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, shared his insights with TimesofIndia.com, quoting Rana's sentiment: "There's no place like home." He 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 emphasized the wisdom of Rana's decision, stating, "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." Bharadwaj has been instrumental in shaping the careers of prominent cricketers such as Gautam Gambhir, Amit Mishra, Joginder Sharma, Unmukt Chand, and Priyansh Arya.

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

While his return to Delhi doesn't automatically guarantee him a spot in the team, Rana is set to participate in the second season of the Delhi Premier League (DPL), which will feature eight teams this time.

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

The circumstances of Rana's return to the Delhi unit remain intriguing, especially considering his previous heated exchange with Delhi captain Ayush Badoni during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarterfinals last year. The intensity of the confrontation required intervention from the umpires to separate the two players.