Nitish Rana Set for Delhi Return After Disappointing Uttar Pradesh Stint

After a two-year period with Uttar Pradesh, Nitish Rana, the 31-year-old cricketer, is reportedly set to return to Delhi for the upcoming domestic season.

Rana, a former Delhi captain, had made the switch to UP in 2023. His childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, shared his thoughts with TimesofIndia.com, stating, "Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai (Nothing comes close to your home)." He 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 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," He also has mentored other known cricketers such as Gautam Gambhir, Amit Mishra, Joginder Sharma, Unmukt Chand, and Priyansh Arya.

Rana's performance in the 2024-25 domestic season for Uttar Pradesh was subpar. He only scored 111 runs in nine Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he played only two List A matches, scoring just 17 runs before being dropped. His Ranji Trophy performance was also weak, with just 150 runs in four games.

While his return to Delhi is expected, it doesn't guarantee him a spot in the team. However, he is slated 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 will need to earn his place back 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 also had a disappointing IPL 2025 season with the Rajasthan Royals, managing only 217 runs in 11 games after being bought for a significant Rs 4.20 crore.

The circumstances of Rana's return to the Delhi unit will be closely watched, especially considering his past altercation with Delhi captain Ayush Badoni during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarterfinals the previous year. The umpires had to intervene when the two players confronted each other.