Nitish Rana Eyes Delhi Return After Disappointing Uttar Pradesh Stint

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

Rana, a former Delhi captain, made the move to UP in 2023. His childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, revealed Rana's sentiments, stating, "Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai (Nothing comes close to your home)." Bharadwaj confirmed that Rana will be playing for Delhi this season, adding that he had advised Rana against the initial move. He also pointed out Rana's less-than-stellar season with Uttar Pradesh, acknowledging the immense pressure on professional cricketers.

Bharadwaj believes Rana's return to Delhi is a "wise decision," emphasizing that Delhi is where he developed as a cricketer from a young age and where he earned his first India call-up. He has also been instrumental in the development of several prominent cricketers, including Gautam Gambhir and Amit Mishra.

Rana faced a challenging 2024-25 domestic season while playing for Uttar Pradesh. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he scored a mere 111 runs in nine games. His performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was also underwhelming, with only 17 runs in two List A matches before being dropped. He was subsequently removed from the Ranji Trophy team after a series of low scores, managing just 150 runs in four games.

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

A source close to the situation emphasized that Delhi is "not a dump station," recalling that the Delhi team had urged Rana to stay when he requested a No Objection Certificate (NOC) in 2023. The source added that Rana will have to "earn his spot" and that there is no assurance of immediate inclusion in the team.

Rana also had a disappointing IPL 2025 season with the Rajasthan Royals, despite being acquired for a substantial Rs 4.20 crore in the auction. He managed to score only 217 runs in 11 innings for the Royals.

The circumstances surrounding Rana's return to the Delhi unit are particularly interesting, considering his heated argument with Delhi captain Ayush Badoni during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarterfinals last year. The umpires had to intervene to separate the two players.