Key facts
- Nikhil Chaudhary, an Indian-born all-rounder, has been selected for Australia's T20 squad.
- This marks the first time an Indian-born male player has been included in an Australian cricket squad in over six decades.
- Chaudhary holds permanent residency in Australia and meets the International Cricket Council's eligibility criteria.
- He previously played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Big Bash League (BBL).
- The selection is for the upcoming three-match T20 series against Bangladesh, to be held in Chattogram from June 17-21.
Spin bowling all-rounder Nikhil Chaudhary, who holds permanent residency in Australia, has been named in the T20 squad for the upcoming away series against Bangladesh. This selection marks a historic moment, as Chaudhary is the first Indian-born male player to feature in an Australian cricket squad in over six decades.
The three-match series will be held in Chattogram from June 17 to 21. Chaudhary, who has played for Delhi Capitals in the IPL and Hobart in the BBL, will join the Australian team in Dhaka on Friday.
Selectors have been impressed by his performance in the Big Bash League, particularly last season. Chaudhary is expected to gain valuable international experience and could be in contention to play in the opening T20 fixture. While Australia has had players of Indian origin in its teams, such as Gurinder Sandhu and Tanveer Sangha, an Indian-born male player has not represented the national side since the 1960s.
Chaudhary, 30, fulfills the International Cricket Council's eligibility criteria to play for Australia. He previously played 14 List-A games for Punjab in India. During a visit to Queensland in 2020, his stay was extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which he worked various jobs before being introduced to local cricket by James Hopes. His best batting season in the BBL saw him score 307 runs at an average of 30.70 with a strike-rate of 153.