Nitish Rana Set for Delhi Comeback After Disappointing Uttar Pradesh Stint

Nitish Rana, the 31-year-old cricketer, is on the verge of returning to Delhi for the upcoming domestic season, two years after his move to Uttar Pradesh.

Nitish Rana playing a shot during an IPL match.

Rana's childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, confirmed the news to TimesofIndia.com, stating, "Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai." He emphasized the importance of playing for one's home team and revealed that he had advised Rana against leaving Delhi in the first place.

Bharadwaj added, "Yes, he will be playing for Delhi this season... He didn't have a great season with Uttar Pradesh. As a professional cricketer, you have too much pressure." He believes Rana's return to Delhi is a "wise decision," considering his history with the team at the age-group level and his first India call-up while representing Delhi. Bharadwaj has played a crucial role in the careers of several prominent cricketers, including Gautam Gambhir and Amit Mishra.

Rana's performance in the 2024-25 domestic season for Uttar Pradesh was underwhelming. He scored only 111 runs in nine games in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was also poor. He managed a mere 17 runs in two List A matches, which led to his being dropped. His Ranji Trophy performance was no better, with 150 runs in four games.

While his return to Delhi doesn't automatically guarantee him a spot in the team, he 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 revealed that Delhi had tried to persuade Rana to stay in 2023 when he initially requested a No Objection Certificate (NOC). The source also emphasized that Rana would have to earn his place in the team.

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

His return to the Delhi setup could be complicated by a past incident. It remains to be seen how Rana will be received, especially 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.