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Nitish Rana Likely To Rejoin Delhi After Dismal Two-Year Stint With Uttar Pradesh

Jatin

Nitish Rana eyes Delhi return [Source: @Rokte_Amarr_KKR/x.com]Nitish Rana eyes Delhi return [Source: @Rokte_Amarr_KKR/x.com]

After a rough patch with Uttar Pradesh, Nitish Rana is all set to return to the Delhi cricket setup for the 2025-26 domestic season. It is a full circle moment for the 31-year-old, who captained Delhi not too long ago before jumping ship to UP in 2023.

Nitish Rana Set To Return To Delhi After UP Stint Flops

But the grass wasn’t greener on the other side. Nitish Rana’s switch back isn’t just about numbers, it’s a call of the heart.

“Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai,” his childhood coach Sanjay Bharadwaj told TimesofIndia.com. 

"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. 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," added Bharadwaj.

Nitish Rana's UP Stint That Never Took Off

Rana’s UP move turned out to be a bit of a trainwreck. In the 2024-25 domestic season, he barely got going. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he scratched out 111 runs in 9 games. Things didn’t get any better in the Vijay Hazare Trophy with just 17 runs in 2 matches and then he was dropped.

Come Ranji Trophy, and the story stayed the same. Rana featured in just 4 games, managing 150 runs. Eventually, he found himself out of the squad entirely. For a player who once looked destined to make a mark on the international stage, it was a season to forget.

No Guaranteed Red Carpet In Delhi

Now, just because he is coming back doesn’t mean he walks straight into the playing XI. A source close to the Delhi camp put it bluntly: “This is not a dump station.” .

Rana has been registered for the second season of the Delhi Premier League (DPL), which now features eight teams. That willl be his shot to prove he's still got the game.

Bad Blood With Badoni

Rana’s return might ruffle a few feathers in the Delhi dressing room. Because the last time he crossed paths with Delhi skipper Ayush Badoni, sparks flew.

In the quarterfinals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, things got so heated between Rana and Badoni that the umpires had to step in to separate the two. So now that Rana’s possibly coming back into a setup led by Badoni, you can bet that the dressing room dynamic will be interesting.

Nitish Rana’s IPL 2025 Form

Even in the IPL, Rana didn’t do himself any favours. Picked up by the Rajasthan Royals for INR 4.20 crore, he managed just 217 runs from 11 innings.

Rana’s return to Delhi might feel like a homecoming but it won’t be a smooth ride. He has got form to find, respect to regain and fences to mend. With the DPL around the corner and a domestic season up for grabs, it’s now or never for the southpaw.