Nikhil Chaudhary had his return tickets booked from Australia after a holiday with his uncle’s family in Cairns, and was eager to join his Punjab teammates ahead of the 2020-21 domestic season. But as fate would have it, the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing worldwide lockdown upended his plans, keeping him Down Under. An IPL contract was in his dreams. However, that three months of uncertain period opened up fresh opportunities for Chaudhary, culminating in him making international debut for Australia in a T20I match against Bangladesh in June this year. The goosebumps are still there.
Not even my parents would actually have thought of that,” Chaudhary, who is in Puducherry with Australia A to play three 50-over games against India A, told PTI in an interview facilitated by Cricket Australia. “It was my life’s biggest moment. Six years ago, when I was going to Australia for a holiday, who could have imagined that I would be playing in Australia?
Chaudhary had an impactful 2025-26 Big Bash League season for Hobart Hurricanes, scoring 307 runs from 12 matches at a strike rate of 154. “See, when I played the Big Bash for the first time, I was almost turning 27. And even straight away in first game, I got the fifer and scored an 80-odd to save the game.
Because the season starts early September there, i moved from Cairns to Brisbane around June.
That’s when everyone knew that I am an all-format player,” he said. “I was in Belgium playing in a T20 league when I got the call from Tony (Dodemaide, former player and one of the Australian selectors). Australia is one of best countries to have played cricket ever. So, it’s not easy to get into it. But to be honest, I’m very grateful. It made the Aussie selectors notice him. “So, I started playing in Brisbane. I have some friends there, and through them I joined Northern Suburban District Club. “I got a phone call from our Punjab selector that I have made it to the Ranji Trophy team. I had to make a quick decision. Then I had a chat with my coach, Charanjit Singh Pangu in Ludhiana, and with mom and dad. That’s a bit late to get a contract. But I knew what impact I can make to the team and to the game. I need the challenge to get the best out of me.
“And then, last year, I got the opportunity for Tasmania to play Shield cricket.
