Nitish Rana Eyes Delhi Return After Disappointing Uttar Pradesh Stint

Nitish Rana Set to Rejoin Delhi After Two-Year Stint in Uttar Pradesh

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

Rana's childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, confirmed the news, stating, "Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai (Nothing comes close to your home)." He 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 believes this is a strategic 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 said. Bharadwaj has also coached 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 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy games. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he played only two List A matches, managing a mere 17 runs before being dropped. He was also removed from the Ranji Trophy team after a series of low scores, totaling just 150 runs in four games.

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

A source close to 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 emphasized that "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 Rs 4.20 crore, he only managed 217 runs in 11 outings.

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