Nitish Rana Set for Delhi Comeback After Two Seasons with Uttar Pradesh

Nitish Rana's decision to return to Delhi before the start of the upcoming domestic season is a major milestone. According to reports, the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) has granted the southpaw a No Objection Certificate (NOC), allowing him to play for a different state. The UPCA has stated that they have no issues with Rana representing a different state association, according to ESPNcricinfo.

Since his debut, Nitish Rana has been a member of Delhi's squad, and he served as team captain till 2023. He abruptly relocated to Uttar Pradesh on August 20, 2023. There were rumours that the 31-year-old had a few run-ins with young players on the club, like Hrithik Shokeen, and that he was dissatisfied after Yash Dhull was given the leadership position. According to sources, Rana is eager for a homecoming and is prepared to play for Delhi once more after a two-year absence.

Nitish Rana's Homecoming:

The UPCA CEO acknowledged to ESPNcricinfo that Rana's decision to quit was motivated by family matters. He said, "The experienced batter asked for an NOC and we have given it to him. He mentioned family reasons for his decision." The Delhi and District Cricket Association's (DDCA) secretary, Ashok Sharma, said, "However, DDCA has not yet received a copy of his NOC. Only after receiving the NOC, we can say anything about the chances of him playing for Delhi."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cricadium CRICKET (@cricadiumcricket)

For the previous two seasons, Rana led Uttar Pradesh as captain. In four Ranji Trophy matches during the 2024–25 domestic season, he amassed 150 runs in six innings, including one half-century. In nine games, he scored 111 runs while competing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20S. Rana's poor showing led to his dismissal from the team after just two Vijay Hazare Trophy games.

Stay tuned for more cricket news.