Nitish Rana Set for Delhi Return After Disappointing Uttar Pradesh Stint

Nitish Rana Eyes Delhi Return After Uttar Pradesh Stint

Nitish Rana, the 31-year-old cricketer, is reportedly set to rejoin Delhi for the upcoming domestic season, two years after his move to Uttar Pradesh.

Rana's childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, confirmed the news to TimesofIndia.com, stating, "Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai." He added, "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 believes this is a positive step 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." Bharadwaj has also mentored prominent players like Gautam Gambhir and Amit Mishra.

Rana's performance during the 2024-25 domestic season for Uttar Pradesh was lackluster. He scored only 111 runs in nine Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches and a mere 17 runs in two Vijay Hazare Trophy games, leading to his exclusion from the Ranji Trophy team after four matches where he only managed 150 runs.

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

A source familiar with the situation emphasized that Rana would need to earn his place in the team. "This is not a dump station," the source stated. "When he asked for the No Objection Certificate (NOC) in 2023, we had requested him to stay and play for Delhi. He will have to earn his spot. There is no guarantee that he will get a chance right away."

Rana's recent IPL season with the Rajasthan Royals was also unremarkable, where he scored 217 runs in 11 matches after being bought for Rs 4.20 crore.

Furthermore, his return to Delhi could potentially reignite tensions, considering his altercation with Delhi captain Ayush Badoni during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarterfinals last year, which required intervention from the umpires.