Delhi Capitals have secured Nitish Rana in a trade deal with the Rajasthan Royals ahead of the IPL 2026 retention deadline. Rana, who represented Delhi in domestic cricket and is an experienced IPL campaigner, joins DC at his existing price of ₹4.2 crore after spending just one season with the Royals. The left-hander notably captained Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2023, stepping in for the injured Shreyas Iyer.
In return, Rajasthan Royals receive Donovan Ferreira, the South African all-rounder who recently captained his national side during their tour of Pakistan. Ferreira is known for his explosive finishing ability—an area where Rajasthan struggled last season. His addition marks a return to familiar surroundings, having previously been part of the Royals setup earlier in his career.
This is yet another major move from the 2008 IPL champions, who have been extremely active in the trade window after finishing ninth last season. Their earlier blockbuster double-swap saw Sanju Samson traded out in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, significantly reshaping their core.
However, Ferreira’s arrival, combined with the acquisition of Curran, means Rajasthan Royals now have an excess of overseas players. As a result, several internationals—including Fazalhaq Farooqi, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, and Kwena Maphaka—are at risk of being released as the franchise looks to balance its foreign-player quota ahead of the new season.