Leagues Back Home: Nitish Rana Returns to Delhi After Disappointing Stint in Uttar Pradesh

Nitish Rana Set to Return to Delhi After Two Years in Uttar Pradesh

Nitish Rana, the 31-year-old cricketer, is reportedly returning to Delhi for the upcoming domestic season after spending two years with Uttar Pradesh.

Nitish Rana in action for Rajasthan Royals.

Rana, a former Delhi captain, made the move to UP in 2023. His childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, stated, "There's no place like home," emphasizing Rana's connection to Delhi. Bharadwaj confirmed Rana's return, saying, "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 smart decision for Rana. "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, highlighting his role in shaping the careers of other cricketers like 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 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy games and a mere 17 runs in two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches, leading to his exclusion from the Ranji Trophy team after scoring just 150 runs in four games.

While his return doesn't automatically guarantee him a spot in the Delhi side, the left-handed batsman will participate in the second season of the Delhi Premier League (DPL), which will feature eight teams.

According to a source close to the situation, Delhi had wanted Rana to stay back in 2023 when he requested a No Objection Certificate (NOC). The source emphasized that Rana would need to earn his place in the team, stating, "There is no guarantee that he will get a chance right away."

Rana also had a disappointing IPL 2025 season with the Rajasthan Royals, scoring only 217 runs in 11 games after being bought for a significant sum of Rs 4.20 crore.

It remains to be seen how Rana will be received within the Delhi team, especially considering his altercation with Delhi captain Ayush Badoni during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarterfinals last year, which required intervention from the umpires.