Nitish Rana

Left-handed batsman and off-spinner who captained both Delhi and KKR while making a solitary T20I appearance for India in 2021.

Nitish Rana is an Indian cricketer born on 27 December 1993 in Delhi, recognized for his left-handed batting and off-spin bowling. While he represented India in a T20I against Sri Lanka in July 2021, his IPL journey has seen him play for the Mumbai Indians (2016–2018) and Kolkata Knight Riders (2019–2024). He captained the Delhi cricket team starting in September 2018 for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, succeeding Gautam Gambhir, and also led the Kolkata Knight Riders during the IPL 2023 season when regular captain Shreyas Iyer was injured.

Quick Facts

Country: India
Born: 27 December 1993
Birthplace: Delhi, India
Heightft: 5
Heightinch: 10
Batting: Left-handed
Bowling: Right-arm off break
Role: Batting allrounder

Lore & Background

Rana's domestic resilience was on full display before his IPL stardom. In a match against Baroda, after Delhi lost three top-four batsmen for single-digit scores, Rana top-scored with 53 off just 29 balls to help chase down the total of 153. He showed similar grit against Jharkhand, hitting an unbeaten 60 off 44 balls when his team was reduced to 14 for 3 in a chase of 135, securing a 5-wicket win. His path wasn't without controversy; he was investigated by the BCCI in 2015 for age-fudging but was cleared, not banned. Although investigated again in 2019, those allegations were proven wrong. In October 2019, he was named in India A's 2019-20 Deodhar Trophy squad, and in December 2018, he was named in India's ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup squad.

Reader's Guide

Nitish Rana is a left-handed batsman and an off-spin bowler who has played for three major IPL franchises: Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Rajasthan Royals. Fans can expect him to stabilize innings or accelerate scoring in crucial phases, having proven his ability to chase down targets under pressure in domestic cricket. His leadership experience includes captaining the Delhi team since November 2018 and leading KKR during the injury absence of Shreyas Iyer in IPL 2023. For those tracking his career, note that he made his international debut in July 2021 against Sri Lanka, scoring 7 runs on his ODI start. His personal life includes marriage to Saachi Marwah on 18 February 2019, who is the cousin of comedian Krushna Abhishek.

Did You Know?

His wife, Saachi Marwah, is a fashion designer based in Delhi.
He made his only international appearance in a T20I against Sri Lanka on 28 July 2021.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Nitish Rana?

Nitish Rana is an Indian cricketer born in Delhi who made his IPL debut with the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2020. He is known for being a versatile all-rounder capable of contributing with both left-handed batting and off-spin bowling.

What happened to Nitish Rana after his time with KKR?

Following his tenure in Kolkata, he played for Rajasthan Royals before being traded to the Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2026 season. This move reunites him with his home state team where he previously served as captain starting in 2018.