Nitish Rana Set for Delhi Return After Disappointing Uttar Pradesh Stint

After a two-year period with Uttar Pradesh, Nitish Rana, the 31-year-old cricketer, is on the verge of returning to Delhi for the upcoming domestic season.

Nitish Rana showcasing his skills in the Indian Premier League.

Rana, a former Delhi captain, initially made the switch to UP in 2023. His childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, revealed to 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 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 stated. Bharadwaj has been instrumental in shaping the careers of prominent cricketers like Gautam Gambhir, Amit Mishra, Joginder Sharma, Unmukt Chand, and Priyansh Arya.

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

A source familiar with the situation emphasized that Rana will need to earn his place in the Delhi side. "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 said. "He will have to earn his spot. There is no guarantee that he will get a chance right away."

Rana's performance in the IPL 2025 for the Rajasthan Royals was also below par. Acquired for a significant sum of Rs 4.20 crore in the auction, he only managed to score 217 runs in 11 innings.

The circumstances of Rana's return to the Delhi unit remain uncertain, 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 face-to-face confrontation.