Nitish Rana Set for Delhi Return After Disappointing Uttar Pradesh Stint

Nitish Rana Eyes Delhi Return 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 he moved to Uttar Pradesh.

Nitish Rana pictured playing for Rajasthan Royals.

Rana's childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, confirmed the news to TimesofIndia.com, stating, "Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai" (There's no place like 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 "wise decision" for Rana, emphasizing that Delhi is where he developed his cricketing career, even earning his first India call-up while representing the state. He has also coached prominent players like Gautam Gambhir and Amit Mishra.

However, Rana's recent performances for Uttar Pradesh have been underwhelming. In the 2024-25 domestic season, he scored only 111 runs in nine Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy games. His Vijay Hazare Trophy performance was equally disappointing, with only 17 runs in two matches. Consequently, he was dropped from the Ranji Trophy team after a series of low scores, managing only 150 runs in four games.

Despite his return, a place in the Delhi side is not guaranteed. However, Rana will participate in the second season of the Delhi Premier League (DPL), featuring eight teams.

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 Rana will need to "earn his spot" and that there is "no guarantee" of immediate inclusion in the team.

Rana's performance in IPL 2025 for the Rajasthan Royals was also below expectations. Despite being bought for a significant Rs 4.20 crore, he only managed 217 runs in 11 innings.

The dynamics within the Delhi team could be interesting, considering Rana's past altercation with Delhi captain Ayush Badoni during a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarterfinal match last year. The umpires had to intervene to separate the two players during the heated exchange.