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Nitish Rana's Ineligibility for DPL 2025

As the Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2025 auction approaches, a crucial update has emerged regarding veteran Indian cricketer Nitish Rana. The former captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will not be able to participate in this year's DPL due to a stipulation imposed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Reasons Behind Rana's Exclusion

After spending the last two domestic seasons with Uttar Pradesh (UP), Rana had transitioned back to his home state of Delhi, hoping to play for them once again. Although he secured the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC) from UP, BCCI rules mandate a 12-month “cooling-off period” for players switching between state teams before they can compete in local T20 leagues for their new team.

Since Rana recently participated in UP's T20 league, he has not completed the required cooling-off period, rendering him ineligible for this season's DPL.

“Unfortunately, the 12-month cooling-off period prevents Rana from participating in the DPL 2025,” a BCCI official confirmed. “He possesses a valid NOC from UP and is cleared to play for Delhi in domestic cricket, but he will have to wait until next season to compete in the DPL.”

Rana's Transition Back to Delhi

Rana initially moved to Uttar Pradesh in 2023, seeking new opportunities and a captaincy role in red-ball cricket. Although he was appointed as captain, his performance, especially in white-ball formats, did not leave a significant mark. Now, with his focus back on Delhi, he obtained the necessary NOC to return.

However, Ashok Sharma, secretary of the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA), mentioned that while discussions have taken place and Rana has provided the NOC, Delhi has yet to receive it in writing. Only after this can his rejoining be finalized.

“We’ve spoken to Nitish, and he has indicated that he has the NOC, but until it is officially received, we cannot proceed with his eligibility for tournaments,” Sharma stated.

Challenges with Timing and Recent Performance

The timing adds another layer of complexity, as the UP T20 League and DPL are usually scheduled concurrently. Given that Rana was recently active in UP’s competition, the BCCI’s eligibility clause significantly affects his availability for this season’s DPL.

Rana's last appearance was in IPL 2025, where he played for the Rajasthan Royals (RR). The season proved challenging for the left-handed batsman, as he managed only 217 runs at an average of 21.7. His performances with UP were also inconsistent, particularly in shorter formats, prompting his decision to return to Delhi.

Although Rana will miss out on the DPL this year, he is anticipated to rejoin Delhi’s domestic setup in other formats, aiming for a fresh start in the 2026 DPL season.

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