When Vidarbha, the two-time Ranji champion, declared thier second innings on 330 on the third day of the Group A match against Delhi and gave the hosts a target of 347 runs, the spectators present at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, the players of both teams, the national and the selectors of the host team also felt that it would not be easy to save the match for Delhi.
Delhi's team came out to play by 10 runs in the second innings. It was a new dawn for the team, who were dismissed for 163 in the first innings, and Nitish came as the sun for them. He not only saved his team from defeat by playing an unbeaten 105 off just 68 balls with the help of seven sixes and eight fours but gave him a straight win. With this, Delhi achieved the target for four wickets in 73 overs. Delhi won the match by six wickets. Vidarbha had scored 179 runs in the first innings, in response, the hosts were piled on 163 and the visiting team took a 16-run lead. After this, Vidarbha declared for 330 runs for three wickets in the second innings. Delhi achieved its target of 347 runs in their second innings.
The match was dominated by Vidarbha's bowler Aditya Thackeray in the first innings, but Nitish impressed all with his superb cut, pull shots. Nitish Rana’s talent playing for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL, the BCCI gave him the Lala Amarnath Award for the best all-round game in domestic limited-overs fantasy cricket in 2018-19. Man of the match when came to the crease, Delhi's score was 163 for one wicket and he created a stir in the camp of defending champions. Nitish completed 50 runs in 26 balls.
All attempts of Vidarbha to stop him proved to be a failure. When the team needed five runs to win, he won his team by hitting a six. Nitish made his Ranji career debut against Vidarbha in 2015 and scored 61 runs in that match. Delhi won that match by 10 wickets at their home. Rana scored 64 runs in the second innings against Vidarbha in the 2017 Ranji final. Although he lost the match in Delhi. As far as this match is concerned, Nitish targeted the main spinner Akshay Wakhare against Vidarbha. Wakhare spent 64 runs in nine overs. Vidarbha coach Chandrakant Pandit played to win the match by declaring the second innings after watching the flop show of Delhi batsmen in the first innings, but he lost. When Nitish came to the crease, Vidarbha captain Faiz Fazal fielded seven players for him in the off-side but his negative strategy also failed. Delhi batsman Nitish Rana said, “I assured our coach that if we have to score around 320 runs in 75 overs, then we will win. This is my best innings in first-class cricket. I will finish 2017 final in Indore.” Not forgotten when Vidarbha won the match by snatching us. I know I can play long shots against spinners. I listen to the advice of people who say I must change my game style but it is my way of playing and do it as I do. “
