Nikhil Chaudhary (born 4 May 1996) is an India-born Australian cricketer who plays for Tasmania and the Hobart Hurricanes. In June 2026, he earned his maiden call-up to the Australia national cricket team and is scheduled to make his international debut during the T20I series in Bangladesh. He is also the second India-born cricketer to feature in the Big Bash League.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 4 May 1996 Delhi, India | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm off break | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: ESPNcricinfo, 20 May 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Early life
editDomestic career
editBy 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]
International career
editOn 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] His selection puts him in line to potentially become the first India-born male cricketer to represent Australia internationally in over 60 years, since leg-spinner Rex Sellers in 1964.[10]
Legal issues
editIn 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
edit- ↑ "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.