Nikhil Chaudhary Joins Australia T20I Squad for Historic Opportunity

Nikhil Chaudhary, an Indian-born all-rounder, has been selected for the Australian T20I squad for the series against Bangladesh. This marks a historic moment as he could become the first Indian-born cricketer to represent Australia in 60 years. With a strong performance in the Big Bash League and a diverse background, Chaudhary's journey to this point is inspiring. As he prepares to join the team in Dhaka, fans are eager to see if he will make his debut in the upcoming matches.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 11, 2026, 14:51 IST

Nikhil Chaudhary's Call-Up to the Australian Squad

Indian all-rounder Nikhil Chaudhary has received his first call-up to the Australian T20I team for the upcoming series against Bangladesh. This opportunity arises due to Travis Head's personal leave and uncertainty surrounding Mitchell Marsh's injury status. If Chaudhary takes the field in Dhaka, he will mark a significant milestone as the first Indian-born cricketer to represent Australia in six decades, following Rex Sellers from Gujarat. Additionally, Lisa Sthalekar, who was born in Pune, played for the Australian Women's team from 2001 to 2013.

Currently competing for JB Bruges in the EUT20 league in Belgium after his time with the Delhi Capitals in the IPL, Chaudhary is set to join the Australian squad in Dhaka this Friday. Selector Tony Dodemaide expressed confidence in Chaudhary's abilities, noting his impressive performances in the Big Bash League (BBL), particularly last season, which led to his inclusion in the squad as a replacement for Head. Dodemaide stated, “Nikhil has been a player of national interest for some time. He was a standby player for this tour, joining the squad at pre-season camps in Brisbane.”

Chaudhary is expected to gain valuable experience in Bangladesh and could potentially make his debut when the team selects its lineup for the first T20 match next week.

Background on Nikhil Chaudhary

Before moving to Australia, Chaudhary represented Punjab in 14 matches, sharing the field with renowned Indian players such as Harbhajan Singh, Shubman Gill, and Abhishek Sharma. He has held various jobs, including working in a restaurant and as a postal delivery worker. His breakthrough in the Big Bash League came through the assistance of former Australian all-rounder James Hopes, leading to a successful stint with the Hobart Hurricanes. In the latest BBL season, he scored 307 runs at an impressive strike rate of 153 and secured his first contract with Tasmania.

Australia Squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Nikhil Chaudhary, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Matthew Kuhnemann, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Adam Zampa