All-around player of Indian heritage Nikhil Chaudhary is grabbing attention in Australia’s top domestic T20 league, the Big Bash League (BBL) 2023–24, with his outstanding performances while playing for the Hobart Hurricanes. With strikes of forty (31) and a blistering 32 (16), the 27-year-old has only batted twice this season. With the ball, he has taken three wickets in seven overs at an economy of 6.71 and an average of 15.66.
Remarkably, the Ludhiana, Punjab-born cricket player is only the second Indian player, after Unmukt Chand, to compete in the BBL. Chaudhary was born in Delhi, but when he was just two years old, his family relocated to Ludhiana. He received his initial instruction from instructor Charanjit Banghu, who refined him after noticing his all-around abilities.
After putting up outstanding performances for the Punjab U-16s and U-19s, Chaudhary made his List-A debut in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. In 2017, he even played in the T20s in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, captained by Harbhajan Singh. In March 2020, the cricketer, who was born in Delhi, went on vacation to Brisbane with the intention of making his Ranji Trophy debut.
Nikhil Chaudhary was chosen for the Southern Suburbs Brisbane cricket team, but he had to stay in Australia a bit longer owing to COVID-19 travel limitations, which forced him to play cricket there. Despite being selected as a replacement player for the Brisbane Heat for two seasons, he was unable to make his BBL debut.
Remarkably, Hobart Hurricanes coach James Hopes, a former seamer from Australia, suggested his name for the team during the current BBL season. Before he signed his BBL deal, he was making ends meet as an Australia Post delivery guy.
Nikhil Chaudharygained attention in the current season when he hit a spectacular six against Haris Rauf during a match against the Melbourne Stars. In an in-game discussion, the spin all-rounder even had the opportunity to speak in Hindi with Brett Lee, his childhood hero.
I took after Brett Lee when I started playing cricket: Nikhil Chaudhary
Upon beginning my cricket career, I emulated Lee’s fast-bowling style. Like him, I wanted to be a proficient quickie. It did not last long, though, as I finally developed leggies. After three and a half years of hard work in Australia, I am enjoying playing in the Big Bash League. The Hindustan Times cited Chaudhary as saying, “Lee and I also spoke Hindi during our conversation.
There’s nothing like meeting your idol 🥹@BrettLee_58 @HurricanesBBL #BBL13 pic.twitter.com/0WIzf3WcMw
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 4, 2024
Nikhil Chaudhary even made a second attempt to join the Indian Premier League (IPL) by taking part in two trials for the Mumbai Indians (MI), but he was not selected. He’s taken 10 wickets at an average of 25.80 and scored 178 runs at a strike rate of 139.06 in his 17 T20 matches to date.
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