Auckland (Avneet Kaur)
Delhi-born all-rounder Nikhil Chaudhary is on the verge of making history after earning a call-up to Australia’s T20 squad for next week’s series against Bangladesh, putting him in line to become the first Indian-born man in more than six decades to represent Australia in international cricket.
The 30-year-old Hobart Hurricanes star has been added to the squad as Australia manages injuries and player absences ahead of the three-match T20 series in Chattogram. Regular opener Travis Head remains unavailable on personal leave, while captain Mitchell Marsh is recovering from an ankle injury and is expected to return for the T20s after missing the ongoing ODI series.
Australian selector Tony Dodemaide said Chaudhary’s performances in the Big Bash League had impressed selectors and earned him an opportunity to push for a debut.
The leg-spinning all-rounder will join the squad in Bangladesh and will compete for a place in the middle order alongside Aaron Hardie and Joel Davies.
If selected, Chaudhary would become the first Indian-born male cricketer to play for Australia since Gujarat-born leg-spinner Rex Sellers, who featured in a Test match against India in Kolkata in 1964. Australia has previously had several players of Indian heritage, including Gurinder Sandhu and Tanveer Sangha, though both were born in Australia.
Born in Delhi, Chaudhary represented Punjab in domestic cricket and shared dressing rooms with players including Harbhajan Singh, Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma. He also had a trial with Mumbai Indians before his life took an unexpected turn during the Covid-19 pandemic.
While visiting relatives in Queensland when international borders shut, Chaudhary decided to pursue his cricket dream in Australia. The journey was far from easy. He worked a series of jobs, including in a Mexican restaurant and later as a postal delivery worker, while continuing to play club cricket.
His performances caught the eye of former Australian all-rounder James Hopes, who recommended him to the Hobart Hurricanes. Since then, Chaudhary has become a fan favourite in the Big Bash League, known not only for his explosive batting and leg-spin but also for his Kabaddi-inspired wicket celebrations.
After helping the Hurricanes win the BBL title, Chaudhary enjoyed his best season with the bat last summer, scoring 307 runs at a strike rate above 150. He also earned his first Tasmania state contract following a breakthrough Sheffield Shield campaign, where he claimed a five-wicket haul and scored his maiden first-class century.
Although not yet an Australian citizen, Chaudhary is a permanent resident and meets the International Cricket Council’s eligibility requirements to represent Australia.
Should he take the field against Bangladesh next week, it would mark a remarkable chapter in a journey that began in Delhi and could now culminate with a historic international debut in Australian colours.
