Nitish Rana Set for Delhi Comeback After Disappointing Uttar Pradesh Stint

Nitish Rana Eyes Delhi Return After Uttar Pradesh Stint

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

Rana's childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, emphasized the importance of playing for one's home team. "Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai (Nothing comes close to your home)," Bharadwaj told TimesofIndia.com, confirming Rana's return to Delhi this season. He also noted that Rana did not have a successful season with Uttar Pradesh, and the pressure on professional cricketers can be immense.

Bharadwaj, who has mentored prominent cricketers like Gautam Gambhir and Amit Mishra, believes this is a wise decision for Rana. Delhi is where he developed his cricket from a young age and earned his first India call-up.

Rana's performance in the 2024-25 domestic season for Uttar Pradesh was lackluster. He scored only 111 runs in nine games in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and a mere 17 runs in two List A matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. His poor form led to his exclusion from the Ranji Trophy team after scoring just 150 runs in four games.

While his return to Delhi doesn't guarantee him a spot in the team, he will participate in the second season of the Delhi Premier League (DPL), which will feature eight teams.

A source close to the situation stated that Delhi had requested Rana to stay back in 2023 when he sought a No Objection Certificate (NOC). The source also emphasized that Rana will have to earn his place in the team, and there are no immediate guarantees.

Rana's IPL 2025 season with the Rajasthan Royals was also underwhelming, as he managed only 217 runs in 11 games despite being bought for a significant Rs 4.20 crore.

Furthermore, his return to Delhi could be complicated by a past altercation with Delhi captain Ayush Badoni during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarterfinals last year, where umpires had to intervene to separate the two players.