Nitish Rana

Nitish Rana IPL factfile

- Nitish Rana was first bought by Mumbai Indians in the IPL in 2015, but did not get a game. He was retained for 2016 after being the most prolific six-hitter in the 2015-16 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

- IPL 2017 was his first proper season, playing 13 games and scoring 333 runs as Mumbai became champions for the third time. He was then released and picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders in the next auction.

- KKR started using his skills as a bowler as well. He made a mark with the ball in their first game of the season, dismissing AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli off consecutive deliveries in a win against RCB.

- Rana became an important part of KKR's middle order, due to his knack of going hard with the bat from the first ball. Rana also crossed the 300-run mark in every season from 2017-23.

- In 2023, after new signing and newly-appointed captain Shreyas Iyer was ruled out of the competition, Rana was made KKR skipper for the season. He ended it as his most prolific year, scoring 413 runs.

- But Iyer was back as captain in 2024, and Rana lost his place in the side. He played just two games that season, even as KKR went on to lift the IPL trophy for the third time.

- Rana was released by KKR ahead of the mega auction for 2025, and was bought by Rajasthan Royals for INR 4.20 crore.

Nitish Rana player profile

An aggressive left-handed batsman who bowls part-time offspin, Nitish Rana was one of the shining lights for Delhi in an otherwise dark 2015-16 season, which was plagued by off-field controversies. He struck 299 runs and 21 sixes - the most by any batsman in the tournament - in Delhi's run to the semi-final of the 2015-16 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Out of the 21 sixes, eight came in an innings of 97 off 40 balls against Andhra.

Rana made his List A and T20 debuts for Delhi in the 2012-13 season but played his first Ranji Trophy match only in the 2015-16 season. He had an impressive debut first-class season. He ran out Wasim Jaffer for a duck and made a half-century on debut against Vidarbha and finished the season as Delhi's highest run-getter, with 557 runs at 50.63, including a century and three fifties. Rana attributed his big-hitting prowess to his stint with Mumbai Indians. He was bought by the franchise in the 2015 auction for INR 10 lakh but did not play a game in the IPL 2015. He was retained by Mumbai Indians ahead of the IPL 2016 auction.