Headline: Nitish Rana Eyes Delhi Comeback After Disappointing Uttar Pradesh Stint: Can He Revive Career at Home?

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

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

Rana's childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, confirmed the news to TimesofIndia.com, stating, "Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai (Nothing comes close to your home)." Bharadwaj emphasized the significance of Rana's return to his home ground, where he has played cricket since his early years. "Yes, he will be playing for Delhi this season. I had asked him not to move out then also. He didn't had 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 added.

Rana's performance in the 2024-25 domestic season for Uttar Pradesh was underwhelming. He scored only 111 runs in nine games in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and a mere 17 runs in two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches before being dropped. His Ranji Trophy performance was equally disappointing, with just 150 runs in four games.

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

A source familiar with the situation stated, "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 further added, "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 par. Despite being bought for a significant sum of Rs 4.20 crore, he managed only 217 runs in 11 outings.

The circumstances surrounding Rana's return to Delhi are noteworthy, considering a past incident. Last year, during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarterfinals, Rana was involved in a heated altercation with Delhi captain Ayush Badoni. The umpires had to intervene to separate the two players. It remains to be seen how Rana's return will be received by the Delhi team.