Nitish Rana is finally returning to where it all started – Delhi – for the next domestic season. Nitish Rana has opted to rejoin the Delhi Cricket Team after an underwhelming experience with Uttar Pradesh that simply did not work at all for the batter. According to The Times of India, two years after the drastic decision to quit his home club, the ex-Delhi captain is now coming back to Delhi to kickstart his career, as revealed by his childhood coach, Sanjay Bhardwaj.
🚨 NITISH RANA TO DELHI 🚨
– Nitish Rana is likely to return to Delhi in Domestic cricket after playing for Uttar Pradesh for 2 years. [Pratyush Raj from TOI] pic.twitter.com/lZSwPyJ8fO---Advertisement---— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 25, 2025
Homecoming for Nitish Rana after disappointing UP stint
The 31-year-old, who was once hailed as one of Delhi’s brightest batting stars, had hopes when he switched to Uttar Pradesh in 2023, but things didn’t quite go his way. Last season was particularly tough for the left-handed batter as he struggled for consistency across formats. Rana was able to score just 111 runs in nine Syed Mushtaq Ali matches and just 17 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and he was able to score only 150 runs in four Ranji Trophy matches before being dropped from the red-ball team by the Uttar Pradesh selectors.
Well, Sanjay Bhardwaj termed Nitish Rana’s comeback a clever decision, reminding us all that Delhi is where the batter spent his formative years as a cricketer and got his maiden India call-up. Bhardwaj, who had also guided Gautam Gambhir, Amit Mishra, Joginder Sharma, Unmukt Chand, and Priyansh Arya, said he opposed Rana’s transfer to Uttar Pradesh, but he didn’t just hear him.
No special treatment for Nitish Rana as he eyes Delhi comeback
In Delhi, too, there is no assurance of Rana’s direct entry in the playing XI. The selectors in Delhi have already said there will be no special case, and the batter has to regain his position in the playing XI across all formats. Rana will be a part of the new Delhi Premier League (DPL), which is now eight teams, and there he’ll get an opportunity to impress the selectors to return to the XI.
Interestingly, Rana wasn’t in good shape in IPL 2025 for the Rajasthan Royals, even after being retained at a whopping price of INR 4.20 crore. The left-handed opener was able to muster a meagre 217 runs from 11 matches.
Also Read: Rishabh Pant Becomes The First Ever Indian Wicketkeeper To Reach 800 Rating Points
