Nitish Rana, the stylish left-hander and former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain, is all set to make a homecoming to Delhi for the upcoming domestic season, a move reportedly influenced by India head coach Gautam Gambhir. Rana, along with Dhruv Shorey, sought a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the DDCA before making his move to Uttar Pradesh. Rana even led the UP state team but is now reportedly eyeing a comeback.
Nitish to Delhi on Gambhir’s influence?
According to Cricblogger, Rana is currently completing the paperwork to leave the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) and rejoin Delhi, the team where he first made his name. What is fascinating is that the move is somehow linked to Gautam Gambhir.
While Gambhir, himself from Delhi, has been a mentor for Rana, he is now India’s head coach and is expected to stay clear of domestic matters. Notably, under his tutelage, India has won just one of its last nine Test matches, including the recent defeat at Leeds. This has put him under massive pressure.
“According to sources, he is currently in the process of completing the necessary paperwork for the transfer and is expected to turn out for Delhi in the coming domestic season,” stated CricBlogger’s report.
Rana’s stint with UP, both as a batter and captain, failed to hit the heights expected. In 10 First-Class matches, he managed just 447 runs at an average of 31.92, while his List-A returns were even bleaker — just 72 runs in 7 games. Despite being bought for ₹4.20 crore by the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, he had a modest season, scoring only 217 runs in 11 games. His leadership for UP across six FC and five List-A matches didn’t translate into success either.
Good news for Delhi Premier League
With his Delhi return imminent, the move could also mean that he adds to the high-profile names ahead of the second season of the Delhi Premier League (DPL) T20.
The DPL, launched in 2024 by DDCA, was a breakthrough tournament that saw a packed Arun Jaitley Stadium for the final. With stars like Himmat Singh and Ayush Badoni taking centre stage, the league showcased Delhi’s talent. Now, DDCA is set to expand the DPL from six to eight teams, with Season 2 expected to begin in early August. Interestingly, the DPL T20 coincided with the UPT20 League, Uttar Pradesh’s own T20 tournament, where Rana represented Noida Super Kings.
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