Nitish Rana All Set To Represent Uttar Pradesh State Team In 2023-24 Domestic Season – Reports

Former Delhi captain Nitish Rana is set to join the Uttar Pradesh state team as a professional for the upcoming 2023-24 domestic season. As per news reports, an official of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) has confirmed about the ongoing discussions and the finalization of formalities at the moment.

Recently, Nitish Rana requested the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to switch teams ahead of the season. The left-handed batter wasn’t happy with how he was dropped midway through the last season and began exploring options after the conclusion of the season.

Nitish Rana Is Likely To Come To UP – UPCA Official

According to a News 18 report, a UPCA official stated that the announcement of Nitish Rana joining the Uttar Pradesh team will be issued soon.

“Yes, Nitish Rana is likely to come to UP for the domestic season. Formalities are being worked out and official statement will be issued soon. That’s all I can say,” says the official.

DDCA joint secretary Rajan Manchanda has confirmed that they have provided the necessary NOC and clearances from the association.

“Yes, we have given the NOC and necessary clearance,” Manchanda tells CricketNext.

Nitish Rana‘s presence will significantly strengthen the inexperienced batting lineup of the UP team, particularly in the middle order. The southpaw will join his Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) teammate Rinku Singh, who has consistently performed for his team across formats in domestic cricket.

The southpaw has emerged as a strong contender for the captaincy role across formats, given his experience leading the Delhi State team. The 29-year-old has showcased impressive performances in white-ball cricket, but his returns have been less impressive in the longer format of the game.

No Point Forcing A Player To Stay Back – DDCA

After being dropped in the middle of the last Ranji season, the KKR batter made himself unavailable for the team’s contest against Hyderabad. According to reports, the DDCA preferred not to retain a player who had already made a decision.

“There was no point forcing a player to stay back. Once a player has made up his mind, there is very little we can do. We can’t give assurances or other things or talk about selection matters. It affects the dressing room atmosphere too when we force a player to stay back. So it’s interest of everyone I would say,” says a DDCA official.

Also read: Nitish Rana And Dhruv Shorey Likely To Leave Delhi State Team – Reports