Nitish Rana Eyes Delhi Return After Disappointing Uttar Pradesh Stint

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

Nitish Rana is seen here playing for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

Rana, a former Delhi captain, had initially made the move to UP in 2023. "Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai (Nothing comes close to your home)," his childhood coach Sanjay Bharadwaj told TimesofIndia.com, highlighting the emotional pull of returning to his roots.

"Yes, he will be playing for Delhi this season," Bharadwaj confirmed. "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."

"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," added Bharadwaj, who has mentored several prominent cricketers including Gautam Gambhir and Amit Mishra.

Performance Dip and the Road Ahead

Rana's performance in the 2024-25 domestic season for Uttar Pradesh was notably underwhelming.

• In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he scored a mere 111 runs across 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.
• Following a series of low scores, he was also removed from the Ranji Trophy team, having scored just 150 runs in four games.

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

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 emphasized, "He will have to earn his spot. There is no guarantee that he will get a chance right away."

IPL Performance and Potential Team Dynamics

Rana's IPL 2025 season with the Rajasthan Royals was also subpar, considering his acquisition for a substantial Rs 4.20 crore in the auction. He only managed to score 217 runs in 11 outings for the Royals.

The circumstances of Rana's return to the Delhi unit remain intriguing, particularly given his previous 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 confrontation.