Nitish Rana set to return to Delhi after two domestic seasons with Uttar Pradesh

The left-handed batter Nitish Rana is set to return to his home state, Delhi after spending two domestic seasons with Uttar Pradesh. He has received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) and is expected to make the switch ahead of the upcoming domestic season.

Rana previously represented Delhi at the age-group and senior levels until 2022. In 2023, he moved to Uttar Pradesh and even captained the side. However, his stint with UP was underwhelming, as he struggled with form and was eventually dropped from both the one-day and first-class squads.

"The experienced batter asked for an NOC and we have given it to him. He mentioned family reasons for his decision," UPCA's chief executive officer Ankit Chatterjee said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

"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," said Ashok Sharma, secretary of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA).

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In the 2024–25 domestic season, the 31-year-old featured in four Ranji Trophy matches, scoring just 150 runs across six innings. His struggles continued in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he managed only 111 runs in nine matches. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Rana played just two games before being dropped due to poor form.

His lean patch extended to the IPL 2025 season as well, where he represented the Rajasthan Royals and scored 217 runs in 11 innings before a calf muscle injury cut his campaign short. With his name missing from the auction list for this year’s UP T20 League, it became clear that he might not continue with Uttar Pradesh.

For now, if the DDCA approves his NOC, Rana could also feature in the upcoming Delhi Premier League (DPL), scheduled to begin in August.