Nitish Rana Eyes Delhi Return After Disappointing Uttar Pradesh Stint: Can He Revive Career?

Nitish Rana Set to Rejoin Delhi After Two-Year Stint in Uttar Pradesh

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

Rana's childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, confirmed the news, stating, "Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai (Nothing comes close to your home)," highlighting the emotional pull of returning to his home team. Bharadwaj further 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."

Bharadwaj, who has mentored prominent cricketers like Gautam Gambhir and Amit Mishra, believes this is a strategic move 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 explained.

However, Rana's recent performances have been underwhelming. During the 2024-25 domestic season with Uttar Pradesh, he scored only 111 runs in nine games in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was also lackluster, managing just 17 runs in two matches before being dropped. Similarly, he was removed from the Ranji Trophy team after a series of low scores, accumulating only 150 runs in four games.

Despite his return, a place in the Delhi side is not guaranteed. The left-handed batsman will participate in the second season of the Delhi Premier League (DPL), which will feature eight teams.

A source familiar with the situation emphasized, "This is not a dump station... He will have to earn his spot. There is no guarantee that he will get a chance right away."

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

Furthermore, his return to the Delhi unit could be complicated by a past altercation with Delhi captain Ayush Badoni during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarterfinals last year. The incident required intervention from the umpires to separate the two players.