New Delhi: Nikhil Chaudhary Scripted history on Wednesday when he became the first Indian-origin male cricketer to debut for Australia in six decades.The 30-year-old was included in Australia’s playing XI for the first T20I against Bangladesh at the Bir Srishithu Flt Lt Matiaur Rahman Stadium in Chittogram, marking a remarkable milestone in the journey that took him from Delhi and Punjab cricket to the international stage in Australian colours.Chaudhary was then selected as a leg-spinning all-rounder for the T20I team that was touring Bangladesh. While former Australian women’s captain Lisa Asthalikar, who was born in Pune, has represented and led Australia, Chaudhary became the first Indian-origin male cricketer to play for the Australian men’s team since the 1960s.According to Cricket Australia, several players of Indian origin including Gurvinder Sindhu and Tanveer Singha have represented Australia. However, no Indian-origin male cricketer has played for the national team since Gujarat-born leg-spinner Rex Sellers rose to prominence in the 1964 Test against India in Calcutta.
Nikhil Chowdhury: Australia from Delhi and Punjab
Born in Delhi, Chaudhary represented Punjab in domestic cricket between 2017 and 2019. He made his senior T20 debut in January 2017 as a medium pacer in a Punjab team that featured experienced names like Harbhajan Singh, Siddharth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma and Gurkeerat Mann.He played 14 matches for Punjab, including 12 T20Is in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and two List A matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.However, Chaudhary’s cricketing journey took an unexpected turn during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Covid Lockdown and Nikhil Chaudhary
In 2020, Chaudhary traveled to Australia to visit his uncle in Queensland and was unable to return to India due to COVID-19 and the lockdown and border sealing due to the pandemic.This period became a turning point in his career.As restrictions eased, Chaudhary began playing club cricket in Brisbane. His performance caught the attention of local coaches.Apart from playing, he also started doing jobs to support himself financially. He cut vegetables in restaurants, drove taxis and delivered parcels while fulfilling his cricket dream.
