New Delhi, Nov 18 (NationPress) The Delhi Capitals franchise has shared an enthusiastic welcome for Nitish Rana, who has been acquired from Rajasthan Royals in exchange for Donovan Ferreira ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026.

Rana kicked off his professional journey in 2013, debuting in List A cricket for Delhi against Assam during the 2012-13 Vijay Hazare Trophy. He represented Delhi in age-group and domestic competitions until 2022.

A few years later, in 2015, he made his first-class debut for Delhi against Vidarbha during the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy. His inaugural first-class season saw him score 557 runs, making him Delhi’s leading run-scorer.

In a nostalgic post, DC wrote on X, "10 years later… your boy is finally home, Dilli," accompanied by a clip where Rana expressed, "People often say that those from Dilli are always fighting... but nobody mentions that they also love the most. And no one loves me more than Dilli. See you soon, Dilli."

Rana made his debut in the Indian Premier League in 2016, though he had limited chances that year. His performance peaked in IPL 2017, where he scored 333 runs and played a pivotal role in the Mumbai Indians' championship run.

However, he was released by the Mumbai team before the 2018 IPL auction, and the Kolkata franchise recognized his potential, signing him for the 2018 season.

After being released before the 2022 mega auction, he was re-signed for INR 8 crore, scoring 361 runs with a strike rate of 143.82.

Retained by KKR, Rana was appointed captain for the 2023 IPL season in the absence of Shreyas Iyer. Although Kolkata missed the playoffs, Rana excelled in his leadership role, finishing as the team's second-highest run-scorer.

With Iyer returning to lead in 2024, Rana faced challenges due to a finger injury that kept him out for 10 consecutive matches, limiting his appearances during what became a championship season for Kolkata. Prior to the 2025 auction, Kolkata chose to release him, leading to his signing with Rajasthan for Rs 4.20 crore.