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 heading back to Delhi for the upcoming domestic season, two years after his move to Uttar Pradesh.

Nitish Rana playing a shot for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

"Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai (Nothing comes close to your home)," stated Sanjay Bharadwaj, Rana's childhood coach, highlighting the emotional aspect of his return. Speaking to TimesofIndia.com, Bharadwaj confirmed, "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 players 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. He scored only 111 runs in nine Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy games. His performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was equally disappointing, managing just 17 runs in two List A matches. Subsequently, he was dropped from the Ranji Trophy team after a series of low scores, accumulating only 150 runs in four matches.

Despite his return, a guaranteed spot in the Delhi side is not assured. However, Rana is expected to participate in the second season of the Delhi Premier League (DPL), which will feature eight teams this year.

A source close to the situation revealed, "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."

In the recent IPL 2025 season, Nitish Rana played for the Rajasthan Royals, who acquired him for a substantial Rs 4.20 crore in the auction. However, he managed only 217 runs in 11 innings.

The dynamics within the Delhi team will be something to watch, especially considering a past incident. Nitish Rana had a heated argument with Delhi captain Ayush Badoni during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarterfinals last year, requiring intervention from the umpires.