The IPL rumor mill is overdrive after Nitish Ranacurrently under contract with Rajasthan Royals (RR)was spotted bearing a Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) The CAP team in front of the Premier League of Delhi (DPL) 2025. The observation sent social forums and cricket forums in a tizzy, fans and analysts dissecting every detail and speculating that a high level trade could soon see Rana return to its former franchise for season IPL 2026.
The last years of Nitish Rana
Rana, who built her IPL inheritance in the KKR midfielder for seven seasons, including a passage as a captain in 2023 – was published by the franchise before the 2025 season. The Royals Rajasthan acquired it for 4.25 sterling books in the middle of important expectations. However, his stay in RR proved to be disappointing. Split on various sticks in the stick and hampered by an injury, Rana achieved 217 points of 11 games at a striking rate of 161.94 in IPL 2025, missing the last three games of the campaign.
| Season IPL | Team | Matches | Shopping | Average | Strike rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | RR | 11 | 217 | 21.70 | 161.94 |
| 2024 | Kkr | 2 | 42 | 9 p.m. | 123.52 |
| 2023 | Kkr | 14 | 413 | 31.76 | 140.95 |
Its lasting popularity with the KKR fans base, combined with the recent viral photo, has made its future a burning subject as an approaches to the IPL 2026 commercial window.
Read also: IPL 2026 Player Trade Window: key dates, rules and everything you need to know
Rana “Violet bleeding” in training session
Choice of Rana’s cap during a Dpl The training session with the Western Delhi Lions instantly fed speculation. For many, this has reported lasting loyalty to KKR’s “purple and gold”, even after a transfer to RR. The 31 -year -old shared training clips on social networks, and fans quickly interpreted his ceiling as a index during a possible meeting with KKR. Neither the player nor the other of the franchise has made an official declaration concerning the commercial plans to date.
Fans and social chatter comments are prey to sentences like “Once knight, always a knight”, “ With great highlighting the mandate of seven seasons of Rana and major contributions to KKR’s successes since 2018. The observation has resurrected debates on the loyalty of players and the complex affairs of IPL transactions.
Will a KKR-Rana meeting occur?
Although speculation is intense, several analysts warn that commercial regulations and IPL deadlines make such stories of return. Rana was prevented from immediately returning to KKR earlier due to the BCCI regulations after her release. However, with the opening of IPL 2026 trade windows, an agreement is no longer out of the question. If RR decides to release or exchange Rana, franchises such as KKR and possibly Gujarat Titans (GT) can continue at auction.
Read also: KKR Scout drops a large index on the Sanju Samson movement in the window of the IPL 2026 window