Former Indian domestic cricketer Nikhil Chaudhary is makingheadlines in Australian cricket. The Delhi-born player, who had played List A matches for Punjab earlier, might make hisdebut for Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield this weekend. If he gets selected, it would be his first match in first-class cricket. He had played one-day games for Punjab but never appeared in any Ranji Trophy matches.
Speaking about the moment, Chaudhary said, “This debut is very close to my heart. When I left India, I never thought I’d get another chance to grab a state contract. Starting again from local club matches here in Australia, and now walking out in a state jersey, it feels like a dream come true.”
Chaudhary’s journey has been different. After moving to Australia, he started again with club cricket and weekend tournaments. His hard work earned him a Big Bash League debut for the Hobart Hurricanes and then, later, a state contract with Tasmania. In September, he made his List A debut for Tasmania in the One-Day Cup against New South Wales, where he took 2 wickets for 39 runs, and smashed 67 runs from 49 balls against Victoria.
Cricket Tasmania High Performance General Manager Salliann Beams praised his journey, saying, “Nikhil’s story is one of perseverance. Many players struggle to adapt after moving countries, but he kept pushing, kept scoring runs, and showed resilience to not only make his debut for the Hurricanes, but now for the Tigers ODC side. His experience in India and his hunger to prove himself make him a great asset to our squad.”
Along with Chaudhary, Tasmania’s Shield squad has Australian international Nathan Ellis and all-rounders Mitch Owen and Beau Webster, giving the team a good mix of young and experienced players for the new season.
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