Nitish Rana all set to QUIT CRICKET for this team

Nitish Rana is finally heading back to where it all began - Delhi - for the upcoming domestic season. Nitish Rana has decided to return to the Delhi Cricket Team following an underwhelming stint with Uttar Pradesh that just didn’t click at all for the batter.

Two years after making the bold move to leave his home team, the former Delhi captain is now returning to Delhi to revive his career, as confirmed by his childhood coach, Sanjay Bhardwaj.

Homecoming for Nitish Rana after underwhelming 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.

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Rana could only manage 111 runs in nine Syed Mushtaq Ali games and only 17 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and he could manage only 150 runs in four Ranji Trophy games before being dropped from the red-ball side by the Uttar Pradesh selectors.

Well, Sanjay Bhardwaj called Nitish Rana’s return a smart move, reminding us that Delhi is where the batter grew up as a cricketer and earned his first India call-up.

It is a smart move: Sanjay Bhardwaj on Nitish Rana's Delhi return

Bhardwaj, who also coached Gautam Gambhir, Amit Mishra, Joginder Sharma, Unmukt Chand, and Priyansh Arya, revealed that he was against Rana moving to Uttar Pradesh, but he didn’t just listen to him.

Sanjay Bhardwaj was quoted as saying by the Times of India, “Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai (Nothing comes close to your home). 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.”

The coach added, “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.”

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No special treatment for Nitish Rana as he eyes Delhi comeback

Back in Delhi, there is no guarantee of Rana getting a place straight in the playing XI. The Delhi selectors have already made it clear that there will be no special treatment, and the batter must earn his place back in the playing XI across the formats.

Rana will be part of the upcoming Delhi Premier League (DPL), which is now expanded to eight teams, where he’ll have a chance to impress the selectors to make his way back into the XI.

A source close to the development said, as quoted by TOI, “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. He will have to earn his spot. There is no guarantee that he will get a chance right away.”

Notably, Rana didn’t have a great run in IPL 2025 with the Rajasthan Royals, despite being picked up for a hefty price of INR 4.20 crore. The left-handed batter could score only 217 runs in 11 matches.

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