Nikhil Chaudhary (cricketer)

Nikhil Chaudhary
Personal information
Born (1996-05-04) 4 May 1996
Delhi, India
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm off break
RoleBatting all-rounder
International information
National side
T20I debut (cap 117)17 June 2026 v Bangladesh
Last T20I19 June 2026 v Bangladesh
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2016/17–2019/20Punjab
2023/24–presentHobart Hurricanes
2025/26–presentTasmania
2026–presentJB Bruges
2026–presentWashington Freedom
2026–presentSouthern Brave
Career statistics
Competition T20I FC LA T20
Matches 3 7 9 68
Runs scored 26 393 167 1,126
Batting average 13.00 32.75 27.83 22.97
100s/50s 0/0 1/1 0/1 0/2
Top score 18 163 67 79
Balls bowled 42 390 315 750
Wickets 2 5 9 32
Bowling average 24.00 54.80 34.00 30.59
5 wickets in innings 0 1 0 0
10 wickets in match 0 0 0 0
Best bowling 1/14 5/108 3/66 3/36
Catches/stumpings 3/– 3/– 2/– 23/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 11 August 2026

Nikhil Chaudhary (born 4 May 1996) is an India-born Australian cricketer who plays for Tasmania, Hobart Hurricanes and the Washington Freedom. In June 2026, he earned his maiden call-up to the Australia national cricket team and made his international debut during the T20I series in Bangladesh. He is also the second India-born cricketer to feature in the Big Bash League.

Early life

Chaudhary was born in Delhi, India.[1] Chaudhary moved to Punjab in his early years.[2] Initially aspiring to be a fast bowler, he later shifted to offspin and ultimately to legspin, while also developing as an aggressive batsman.[2]

Domestic career

By 2017, Chaudhary had emerged in Indian domestic cricket as a batting all-rounder. He made his Twenty20 debut for Punjab in the 2016–17 Inter State Twenty-20 Tournament on 29 January 2017.[3] Despite training under cricketers such as Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh in Punjab, his career in India did not lead to an IPL selection, with unsuccessful trials at Mumbai Indians.[2]

His career took a turn when he was stranded in Brisbane during the COVID-19 pandemic while he was on a travel visa.[2] During this period, he actively participated in club cricket, gaining notice for his performance, especially in a semi-final where he hit seven sixes.[2] The performance led to his inclusion in the BBL after a recommendation from a local coach.[2] During this period, he also worked various jobs in Brisbane, including a brief period at a Mexican restaurant and a longer tenure as a courier with Australia Post to support himself.[2]

In 2023, after playing grade cricket in Brisbane,[4] Chaudhary joined the Hobart Hurricanes of the Big Bash League for the 2023–24 season.[5][6]

In January 2025, Chaudhary was part of the Hurricanes squad that won the 2024–25 Big Bash League final.

International career

On 11 June 2026, Chaudhary received his maiden international call-up when he was added to Australia's T20I squad for their three-match tour of Bangladesh, replacing Travis Head, who withdrew due to personal leave.[7][8]

Although he does not hold Australian citizenship, he is a permanent resident who meets the ICC's eligibility criteria through residency.[9] Chaudhary made his debut in the first match of the series, making him the first India-born male cricketer to represent Australia internationally in over 60 years, since leg-spinner Rex Sellers in 1964.[10]

In March 2024, Chaudhary stood trial in the District Court of Queensland on a charge of raping a woman in his car in Townsville in 2021, and was found not guilty. The Hobart Hurricanes said they were unaware of the charges before the trial started.[11][12]

References

  1. ↑ "Nikhil Chaudhary". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "From Punjab to Big Bash, the journey of big-hitting Nikhil Chaudhary". ESPNcricinfo.
  3. ↑ "Inter State Twenty-20 Tournament, North Zone: Haryana v Punjab at Nadaun, Jan 29, 2017". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  4. ↑ Cherny, Daniel (7 November 2023). "BBL 2023: Hobart Hurricanes sign Nikhil Chaudhary and Sam Heazlett". The Toowoomba Chronicle. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  5. ↑ Bevis, Jacob (7 November 2023). "Hurricanes recruit big hitting duo in a bid for consistency". The Advocate. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  6. ↑ Rosendale, Ryan (1 December 2023). "Hobart Hurricanes recruit Nikhil Chaudhary to debut in CTPL for Glenorchy". The Mercury. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  7. ↑ Louis Cameron (11 June 2026). "Chaudhary added to Australia's squad for Bangladesh T20Is". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  8. ↑ Faham Uddin (11 June 2026). "Travis Head Out, Nikhil Chaudhary In: Australia Hands Indian-Born All-Rounder Maiden Call-up". Times Now. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  9. ↑ Alex Malcolm (11 June 2026). "India-born Nikhil Chaudhary called into Australia T20 squad". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  10. ↑ "Aussies add Delhi-born spinner to squad for Bangladesh T20Is". International Cricket Council. 11 June 2026. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  11. ↑ "Big Bash cricketer stands trial for allegedly raping woman outside nightclub". ABC News. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  12. ↑ "Hobart Hurricanes player found not guilty of rape in Townsville trial". ABC News. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.