Nitish Rana could not have asked for a better homecoming. After two years away, the former Delhi captain returned to play in front of his home fans and showed why he is still one of the best. After a quiet IPL 2025 season with Rajasthan Royals, Nitish wanted to get back in form before the new domestic season. In the IPL, he hardly bowled, but for West Delhi Lions in the DPL, he decided to use his off‑spin and it paid off.

Nitish was the most economical bowler for his team, giving away only 18 runs in 3 overs, the same as Hrithik Shokeen. He also took an important wicket, removing Arpit Rana just when East Delhi Riders were looking settled. He mixed up his pace and bowled wide so the batters couldn’t attack him easily. Before the tournament, Nitish admitted he was unsure about returning to Delhi. “I knew it wouldn’t be easy because there’s so much talent here. I didn’t want to take someone else’s place or cause any problems,” he said.

After shining with the ball, Nitish showed his real strength batting. Chasing 81 from the last 10 overs, he walked in and changed the game straight away. He smashed 39 runs from just 15 balls, hitting cleanly and taking the game away from East Delhi Riders. He got out caught behind, but by then the job was done. West Delhi Lions won by 7 wickets with 15 balls left, giving their net run rate a big boost. For Nitish, it was a dream return proving he still has the skill, the power, and the love for the game.

ALSO READ: Star Pakistani Batter Ruled Out of West Indies Series with Hamstring Injury

East Delhi Riders had an excellent start to the tournament, winning their opening match by 5 wickets against South Delhi Superstarz, successfully chasing down the target of 170 runs. Captain Anuj Rawat was the standout performer for East Delhi Riders, scoring 55 runs off 35 balls.

On the other hand, the West Delhi Lions finished at the bottom of the points table last season, and it will be interesting to see if the team can turn the tables this season.

EDR vs WDL Match Details

Date: August 4th, 2025

Time: 2:00 PM IST

Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

Live Streaming: Fancode  

EDR vs WDL Weather Report

Clear weather 

Also Read: ECS T10 England 2025: KSXI vs GFD Prediction– Match 26, Who will win today?

Top Batters EDR vs WDL

• Anuj Rawat (EDR) - 55 runs in this tournament 

• Mayank Rawat (EDR) - 30 runs in this tournament 

• Hardik Sharma (EDR) - 27 runs this tournament 

Top Bowler EDR vs WDL

• Ajay Rawat (EDR) - 2 wickets in this tournament 

• Ashish Meena (EDR) - 2 wickets in this tournament 

• Rohan Rathi (EDR) - 1 wickets in this tournament 

EDR vs WDL Recent Performance

EDR vs WDL Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1- If EDR bats first

• First Innings score prediction- EDR is expected to score 175-185 runs

• Result prediction- EDR will win the match by 20-30 Runs 

Scenario 2- If WDL bats first

• First Innings score prediction- WDL is expected to score 145-155 runs.

• Result prediction- EDR will win the match by 5 wickets 

EDR vs WDL Predicted Playing XI

East Delhi Riders (EDR) Playing XI 

Anuj Rawat (c & wk), Sujal Singh, Arpit Rana, Hardik Sharma, Mayank Rawat, Rohan Rathi, Rounak Waghela, Navdeep Saini, Akhil Chaudhary, Ajay Ahlawat, Ashish Meena, Kavya Gupta (Impact Player)

West Delhi Lions (WDL) Playing XI

Nitish Rana (c), Vishal Abhua (wk), Vedant Sehwag, Manan Bhrdwaj, Hrithik Shokeen, Krish Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Naman Tiwari, Anirudh Chowdhary, Vikas Rana, Akshay Kapoor, Ankit Kumar (Impact Player)

EDR vs WDL Complete Squad

East Delhi Riders - 

Anuj Rawat (Retained) Navdeep Saini, Akhil Chaudhary, Mayank Rawat, Arpit Rana, Salil Malhotra, Rounak Waghela, Vansh Jetly, Yashwardhan Oberai, Sujal Singh, Hardik Sharma, Kavya Gupta, Rohan Rathi, Ashish Meena, Ajay Ahlawat, Kunal Sharma, Rohit Yadav, Mrinal Gulati, Yuvraaj Rathi, Shivam Kumar Tripathi, Vaibhav Baisla

West Delhi Lions -

Ayush Doseja (Retained), Nitish Rana, Ishant Sharma, Hritik Shokeen, Mayank Gusain, Shivank Vashisth, Ankit Rajesh Kumar, Laxman, Shubham Dubey, Krish Yadav, Manan Bhardwaj, Shantanu Yadav, Tishant Dabla, Vishal Abhua, Vikas Rana, Anirudh Chowdhary, Akshay Kapoor, Ravneet Tanwan, Naman Tiwari, Bhagwan Singh, Rishabh Rana, Kabir Sachdeva, Vedant Sehwag.

EDR vs WDL Today Match Prediction, Who Will Win the Match?

East Delhi Riders To win

We predict that East Delhi Riders will be winning this Delhi T20 Premier League match. The likes of Priyansh Arya, Shivam Sharma and Suyash Sharma will be key players to watch out for.

Bollywood actor Sunny Singh made headlines with his unique pics in the fun ‘This or That’ cricket challenge. When asked to choose from various top Indian cricketers, fans were surprised to see him select former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Nitish Rana over some of the top names in Indian cricket’s history, including, of course, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni!

The actor’s picks followed an interesting pattern. He initially chose Shubman Gill over Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Then, in a twist, he picked Rinku Singh over Gill. However, the most unexpected moment came when Nitish Rana’s name appeared. Sunny picked him above all others—including Mohammed Siraj, MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Jasprit Bumrah, Kapil Dev, and even the legendary Kohli and Rohit.

Rishabh Pant, India’s star wicketkeeper, reacted to the viral clip by dropping three fire emojis and a laughing emoji in the comments. Pant is currently touring England with the Indian team for the ongoing five-match Test series. The fourth Test is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, July 23, at Old Trafford in Manchester.

Nitish Rana’s recent form and Test retirements of legends

Nitish Rana, who played his last IPL season in 2025 for Rajasthan Royals, scored 217 runs in 11 innings, including two half-centuries. Although he is no longer a part of KKR, he was the captain of the franchise in IPL 2023 and played for them between 2018-2024. The left-handed cricketer is now gearing up for Season 2 of the Delhi Premier League (DPL).

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See Also: 'They will do it' – Former India batter backs Shubman Gill and team ahead of 4th ENG vs IND 2025 Test

The Indian Test squad is in transition mode after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from the format. Kohli, India's highest-scoring Test skipper, had scored 9230 runs in 123 Tests, with 30 centuries. Rohit Sharma played 67 Tests, making 4301 runs and leading India in 24 games with a success ratio of 50.

Nitish Rana looks set for a homecoming in Indian domestic cricket. After spending two seasons with Uttar Pradesh, the left-handed batter is likely to return to his original side, Delhi, ahead of the upcoming domestic season. The news was first reported by Pratyush Raj of the Times of India, and has already created buzz among fans of Delhi cricket.

Rana moved to Uttar Pradesh in 2022, probably looking for a fresh start and more chances to play consistently. He had a few solid outings there, but let’s be honest  the move didn’t really pan out the way many had hoped. Now, with Delhi rebuilding and trying to find their rhythm again, bringing someone like Rana back into the mix just feels like the right move.

He’s not new to the grind. Rana’s been around the domestic circuit for years, played in big IPL games, and even led Delhi before. He hits hard, plays with intent, and doesn’t shy away from pressure all things a young Delhi side could really use right now. He’s the kind of player who brings both skill and presence to the dressing room someone who’s been through it and knows what it takes.

ALSO READ: OTD: Ravindra Jadeja's heroics earned India the 2013 Champions Trophy defeating England

Nitish Rana’s Return Could Be the Turning Point in Delhi’s Domestic Cricket Rebuild

Rana’s return won’t just be about adding runs to the scorecard it could be about resetting Delhi’s mindset. Over the years, Rana has grown into a mature cricketer who understands the grind of domestic cricket. Rana’s been through a lot  he’s played big IPL matches, handled pressure situations, and seen what it’s like to be in different team environments. That kind of experience can’t be taught. It’s not just about the runs he scores it’s the leadership, the energy, and the intent he brings with him. For a Delhi side filled with young talent still finding their feet in the longer format, having someone like Rana around could make a real difference. He knows what it takes to win, and just as importantly, how to bounce back when things don’t go your way.

His presence in the dressing room could lift the whole squad. Rana understands the weight that comes with wearing the Delhi cap the expectations, the pressure, the constant comparisons. He’s been there before. And whether it’s rescuing the team from a collapse or putting an arm around a youngster who’s had a tough day, he adds value in ways that go beyond just numbers on a scoresheet. Delhi’s red-ball form has been patchy for a while now, but with Rana’s return, there’s hope they can turn a corner. He’s been through the highs and the lows  and that kind of experience might be exactly what this Delhi team needs to start punching above its weight again.

Devdutt Padikkal was leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) with his fluent 50 but ended in a dramatic way. Padikkal misjudged Sandeep Sharma's slower ball and couldn't get enough wood on the ball, which resulted in a caught out. The scoreboard will show only the bowler and fielder's names, but it will not tell how Rana was able to complete the whole process. 

RCB started the game 42 of the IPL 2025 with a 61-run first wicket stand against Rajasthan Royals (RR), before the departure of Phil Salt with an individual score of 26. Virat Kohli was driving his innings swiftly and got himself to 70 runs after. 

Kohli's innings was firstly well supported by Salt and then Devdutt Padikkal. The former RCB skipper was gone for a well-taken catch by Nitish Rana, bowled by Jofra Archer. Rana again appeared to save his team, Rajasthan Royals, when he positioned himself for Padikkal's wicket. 

Read More: IPL 2025: Who is Kunal Singh Rathore making debut against RCB in match number 42?

Devdutt Padikkal made his way to the dugout in a dramatic manner 

On the first ball of the 17th over, Sandeep Sharma took all the pace from the ball and angled well across the left-handed batter. Devdutt just completed his 50 and was ready to hoist the ball over the cover, but Sharma's delivery could not make this happen. The RCB batter was waiting deep in the crease and mistimed the ball.

Watch the catch here:

Never let it go 👌

Nitish Rana holds onto a juggling catch ☝️#RR strike back with quick wickets 👏

Updates ▶ https://t.co/mtgySHgAjc #TATAIPL | #RCBvRR | @NitishRana_27 | @rajasthanroyals pic.twitter.com/kPXRGJkmEY

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 24, 2025

The ball was well powered in the air, and Rana was right in line, but he lost it in the lights a bit and ended up wobbling it out. The RR fielder grabbed the ball after juggling multiple times. 

In a nail-biting IPL 2025 showdown at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi Capitals edged past Rajasthan Royals in a Super Over thriller that had fans on the edge of their seats. With RR setting a target of 11 in the Super Over, DC’s KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs chased it down with two balls to spare. However, what sparked more debate than the result was RR’s puzzling decision to send Shimron Hetmyer and Riyan Parag to bat in the Super Over, leaving out the in-form duo of Nitish Rana and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Nitish Rana, who anchored RR’s innings with a brilliant 51 off just 28 deliveries, addressed the media after the match to shed light on the team’s strategy. Despite being one of the standout performers, Rana was not selected among the top three Super Over batters. He candidly spoke about the call, acknowledging the management’s decision but also hinting that the team might revisit their choices in similar situations going forward.

“The management takes the call, not one person. The captain is there along with two other senior players and coaches. If Shimron Hetmyer had hit two sixes, then you wouldn’t be asking this question. I will give the same answer. I don’t have any other answer. Whatever decision we took was right. Hetmyer is our finisher; everyone knows that,” Rana said.

ALSO SEE: IPL 2025: Sanju Samson shares key insights amid injury rumors

Rana defends the team’s tactical choices despite fan criticism

Rana also defended the move to give the Super Over ball to Sandeep Sharma, rather than the more seasoned Jofra Archer, repeating that cricket is an outcome-based game where hindsight is commonly behind criticism. "One individual never makes such decisions. Management and support staff are present to talk about these kinds of things. If the choice was in our advantage, then your query would have been different," he mentioned.

Rajasthan Royals had agonizingly nearly won, requiring 9 runs for the last over before Starc's brilliance subjected the match to a Super Over. Poor judgment cost run-outs of Parag and Jaiswal in the Super Over, limiting RR to a sub-par 11. That was not enough as Delhi kept their nerve to win two vital points and regain the top spot with 10 points from six matches.

Recently, Gautam Gambhir has been at the center of a heated controversy after former cricketer Manoj Tiwary made strong remarks about his leadership and public image. In the wake of these comments, several players have come forward to show their support for Gambhir, with Nitish Rana being one of the first to defend him. Following this, Harshit Rana, another member of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad under Gambhir's coaching in IPL 2024, also stepped up to express his support.

Read Also: Manoj Tiwary Slams Gautam Gambhir: Calls Him a Hypocrite and Questions His Leadership

Harshit, who played under Gambhir’s coaching during last year's IPL and the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25, took to social media to back the former cricketer. He shared his thoughts by uploading an Instagram story in which he addressed the criticism, emphasizing that criticizing someone due to personal insecurities was unfair and wrong. Harshit highlighted Gambhir's selfless leadership and the support he consistently provided to his players, especially during tough times, and always gave them the limelight when things were going well.

Harshit highlighted Gambhir’s selfless leadership, noting how he always focused on the players' well-being and their success on the field. Harshit added that Gambhir consistently supported his players, especially when they were going through tough times, and always gave them the limelight when things were going well. He further expressed that Gambhir had immense knowledge of how to turn games in favor of the team, demonstrating strategic brilliance as a coach.

Nitish Rana, another former KKR player, also expressed his support for Gambhir, defending him against the criticism. He took to Twitter, suggesting that Tiwary’s comments were rooted in personal insecurities and reaffirmed Gambhir’s qualities as a selfless and effective leader. Rana highlighted Gambhir’s consistent ability to motivate and support his players, reinforcing the idea that Gambhir’s leadership was both genuine and impactful.

Criticism should be based on facts not personal insecurities. Gauti bhaiyya is one of the most selfless players I’ve ever met. He shoulders responsibility in times of distress like no other. Performance doesn’t need any PR. The trophies speak for themselves.

— Nitish Rana (@NitishRana_27) January 9, 2025

The controversy began when Manoj Tiwary criticized Gambhir for allegedly taking all the credit for KKR’s 2012 IPL win. Tiwary suggested that Gambhir’s public image overshadowed the contributions of other key players, including himself, Jacques Kallis, and Sunil Narine. He also raised concerns about Gambhir’s leadership during his coaching tenure with the Indian team. Tiwary’s comments, which gained attention after being aired in a viral interview, sparked a wave of debate in the cricketing community.

Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir is facing criticisms due to Team India’s recent struggles, especially in Test cricket. Nitish Rana came with support for Gambhir by calling him one of the most selfless players. 

After Gautam Gambhir took the head coach responsibility of the Indian national cricket team, India suffered some historic defeats. A new-looking Indian team lost a bilateral ODI series against the hosts Sri Lanka, while they lost the three-match home Test series against New Zealand by 3-0. 

Despite starting the Australia tour with a historic 295-run win in Perth, India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia by 3-1. 

See Also: Gautam Gambhir as batter, captain, and coach: Stats and Facts

India failed to reach the Final of the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship

By losing both the last two Test series against New Zealand and Australia, India ultimately failed to reach the final of the third cycle of the ICC World Test Championship (2023-2025). India played the first two WTC cycle Finals, where New Zealand beat them in the first Final and Australia beat them in the second Final. 

In the recently concluded Australia tour, captain Rohit Sharma disappointed the fans and experts both as a batter and skipper. Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar criticised the Indian coaches for the visiting batters' continuous struggles in the entire series. Till the end of the series in Australia, most of the Indian batters seemed clueless, and there were also no clarifications about the roles of the players. 

Criticism should be based on facts not personal insecurities: Nitish Rana

Nitish Rana, who was also a vice-captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, came to strong support of Gambhir. Rana got the guidance of Gambhir from his domestic cricket career for Delhi. He called the former Indian opener one of the most selfless players. 

Nitish Rana, who has played one ODI and two T20Is, wrote on his official X account, “Criticism should be based on facts not personal insecurities. Gauti bhaiyya is one of the most selfless players I’ve ever met. He shoulders responsibility in times of distress like no other. Performance doesn’t need any PR. The trophies speak for themselves.”

Criticism should be based on facts not personal insecurities. Gauti bhaiyya is one of the most selfless players I’ve ever met. He shoulders responsibility in times of distress like no other. Performance doesn’t need any PR. The trophies speak for themselves.

— Nitish Rana (@NitishRana_27) January 9, 2025

On Thursday, Kolkata Knight Riders CEO Venky Mysore confirmed that Shreyas Iyer would resume his role as captain for KKR in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, with Nitish Rana appointed as his deputy.

Iyer had missed the IPL 2023 due to injury, leading Nitish Rana to captain the team, resulting in an eighth-place finish. However, Iyer made a successful comeback during the 2023 Asia Cup in September-October and contributed to India’s journey to the 2023 World Cup final last month.

Expressing his excitement, Venky stated, “It was unfortunate that Shreyas missed IPL 2023 due to injury. We are delighted to have him back as Captain. His recovery and remarkable form showcase his character.”

The announcement also confirmed the return of Gautam Gambhir as a mentor to the franchise. Gambhir, who led KKR to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, rejoined as a mentor last month. Having served as a mentor for the Lucknow Super Giants in 2022 and 2023 after his retirement, Gambhir brings valuable experience to the team.

See Also: Shan Masood Appointed as Captain of Karachi Kings for PSL Season 9

Venky expressed gratitude to Nitish Rana for his leadership in Iyer’s absence in the previous season, stating, “We are grateful that Nitish agreed to step into Shreyas’s shoes last season and did a great job. Nitish, as Vice Captain, will undoubtedly support Shreyas for the benefit of #TeamKKR.”

Shreyas Iyer commended Rana for his leadership during the challenges of the last season and expressed his delight at Rana being named Vice Captain for the upcoming edition. “Nitish did a great job not only filling in for me but also with his commendable leadership. I am delighted that KKR has named him Vice Captain. No doubt it will strengthen the leadership group,” Iyer remarked.

In a shocking incident, Nitish Rana’s wife Saachi Marwah was attacked by two men when she was travelling in her car in Delhi. Saachi Marwah put this on her story that while she was travelling back to her home from work, two men started stalking and chasing her in Kirti Nagar area, Delhi. They even started hitting the car randomly. She also added that when she complained about this to Delhi Police, she did not get a good response from them. Saachi Marwah is clearly not happy with the response that she got from the cops. According to Saachi Marwah, Cops told her that “so now that you’ve reach home safe, let it go! Next time number note kar lena”

Netizens came in support of Nitish Rana’s wife on twitter after the tweet above was share.

Here’s the public reaction on the incident :