Nitish Rana looks set to pull on Delhi colours once more. The left-hand batter has obtained a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association and is waiting for Delhi administrators to give the final nod before the new domestic season.
“The experienced batter asked for an NOC and we have given it to him,” UPCA chief executive Ankit Chatterjee confirmed. “He mentioned family reasons for his decision.”
Delhi & District Cricket Association secretary Ashok Sharma added, “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.”
Rana came through Delhi’s age-group sides and enjoyed nearly a decade with the senior team before moving to UP in 2023. He even captained the side in six Ranji Trophy and four Vijay Hazare games during 2023-24, but results never quite matched expectation. Across ten first-class outings for UP he made 447 runs, while limited-overs returns were leaner still – 72 List-A runs in seven matches and 314 T20 runs in 16 appearances.
Last season underlined the struggle. He managed 150 runs in four Ranji games, averaged under 14 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and was dropped for the back-end of both white-ball tournaments. A niggling calf injury then hampered his IPL campaign with Rajasthan Royals, where 217 runs in 11 knocks left him searching for rhythm.
Those numbers tell their own story, yet teammates insist the talent remains. A UP squad member, requesting anonymity, said the dressing-room valued Rana’s “honesty and work ethic”, even as form deserted him.
Should the paperwork land on time, Rana could appear in August’s Delhi Premier League – a handy tune-up before September’s domestic calendar. Delhi, though, have options. Current captain Ayush Badoni, Himmat Singh, Lalit Yadav and youngsters like Arpit Rana (no relation) all bat in similar middle-order slots. The memory of Rana’s on-field exchange with Badoni during last year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali game still lingers, although insiders downplay any lingering tension.
From a purely cricket angle, Delhi need stability after two erratic Ranji campaigns. Rana’s experience – 52 first-class matches, over 3,500 runs and a reputation for counter-attacking innings – could help. Yet selection panel member (and former opener) Shikhar Dhawan offered a measured view last week: “We’ll pick form and fitness first. Reputation counts, but runs on the board count more.”
The move, if sealed, would also allow Rana to be closer to family in west Delhi. Friends say that matters more as he approaches what is often a make-or-break phase for domestic batters in their early thirties.
It is, in short, a fresh start that both parties might welcome. For Delhi, a proven but hungry middle-order option; for Rana, familiar pitches and a support network he trusts. The next few weeks – and one official email containing that NOC – will decide whether the reunion happens.
