Nitish Rana Eyes Delhi Comeback After Disappointing Uttar Pradesh Stint

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

Nitish Rana plays for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

"Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai (Nothing comes close to your home)," said Sanjay Bharadwaj, Rana's childhood coach, highlighting the emotional pull of returning to his roots. Bharadwaj confirmed Rana's return, stating, "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, who has mentored prominent cricketers like Gautam Gambhir and Amit Mishra, 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 added.

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

While his return to Delhi doesn't automatically guarantee him a spot in the team, the left-handed batsman will participate in the second season of the Delhi Premier League (DPL), which will feature eight teams.

A source close to 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 stated. "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 below par, scoring only 217 runs in 11 outings, despite being bought for a significant Rs 4.20 crore.

The circumstances of Rana's return to the Delhi unit remain intriguing, 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.