Uttar Pradesh skipper Nitish Rana on Saturday (January 27) slammed a sensational century in a Ranji Trophy match against Mumbai to put his team in the driver’s seat.

Rana was in a destructive mood as he notched up his three-figure mark in just 105 balls. This was his seventh hundred in first-class cricket. Thanks to his ton, Uttar Pradesh racked up 324/10 in their first innings, taking a significant lead of 126 runs.

After completing the milestone, Nitish Rana brought out a unique celebration as he cleaned his bat with a hand towel.

A few fans speculated on social media that Nitish Rana may have taken a sly dig at Yash Dhull with his celebration. Rana was reportedly not happy with Dhull replacing him as Delhi's white-ball captain, which also saw him parting ways with the Delhi side after a 10-year-long stint.

Speaking after the second day’s play, Nitish Rana expressed his desire to prove his mettle in red-ball cricket while also adding that the dressing room atmosphere of the Delhi team was not good for his career.

"It was my mistake that I wasn't focusing on red-ball cricket. A lot of people had started talking that I wasn't a red-ball player, and I would not have had to listen to that talk. Since I switched from Delhi (this year), my target has been to make my name in red-ball cricket again," Rana was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

"It was in my mind that the dressing room atmosphere of the Delhi team was not good for my career. I felt that a change was necessary for my career. I have always looked at UP as an Elite team, and I know people here. Luckily I have got a team where I am getting respect," he added.