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Nikhil Chaudhary (cricketer)
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| Born | 4 May 1996 Delhi, India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm off break | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Batting all-rounder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| T20I debut (cap 117) | 17 June 2026 v Bangladesh | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last T20I | 19 June 2026 v Bangladesh | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016/17–2019/20 | Punjab | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023/24–present | Hobart Hurricanes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025/26–present | Tasmania | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2026–present | JB Bruges | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2026–present | Washington Freedom | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2026–present | Southern Brave | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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]
Legal issues
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
- ↑ "Nikhil Chaudhary". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "From Punjab to Big Bash, the journey of big-hitting Nikhil Chaudhary". ESPNcricinfo.
- ↑ "Inter State Twenty-20 Tournament, North Zone: Haryana v Punjab at Nadaun, Jan 29, 2017". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ↑ Cherny, Daniel (7 November 2023). "BBL 2023: Hobart Hurricanes sign Nikhil Chaudhary and Sam Heazlett". The Toowoomba Chronicle. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ↑ Bevis, Jacob (7 November 2023). "Hurricanes recruit big hitting duo in a bid for consistency". The Advocate. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ↑ Rosendale, Ryan (1 December 2023). "Hobart Hurricanes recruit Nikhil Chaudhary to debut in CTPL for Glenorchy". The Mercury. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ↑ Louis Cameron (11 June 2026). "Chaudhary added to Australia's squad for Bangladesh T20Is". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Alex Malcolm (11 June 2026). "India-born Nikhil Chaudhary called into Australia T20 squad". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- ↑ "Aussies add Delhi-born spinner to squad for Bangladesh T20Is". International Cricket Council. 11 June 2026. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- ↑ "Big Bash cricketer stands trial for allegedly raping woman outside nightclub". ABC News. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ↑ "Hobart Hurricanes player found not guilty of rape in Townsville trial". ABC News. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.