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Nikhil Chaudhary International Debut: After suffering a historic 2-1 ODI series defeat against Bangladesh (Australia tour of Bangladesh), Australia kicked off the T20I series in Chattogram on Wednesday. In the opening match of the three-game series, Australia handed international debuts to two uncapped players Joel Davies and an Indian-born cricketer. The latter had been added to the squad as a replacement for star opener Travis Head.
Who is Nikhil Chaudhary?
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Delhi-born Nikhil Chaudhary is an all-rounder who began his cricketing journey in India before moving to Australia. He played 14 domestic limited-overs matches for Punjab. During that time, he shared the dressing room with Indian stalwarts like Harbhajan Singh, Shubman Gill, and Abhishek Sharma. Furthermore, he even attended trials for the IPL franchise Mumbai Indians.
How the COVID-19 Lockdown Changed Nikhil Chaudhary's Destiny
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In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nikhil visited his uncle in Queensland. Suddenly, international borders were closed, leaving him unable to return to India. Consequently, he made the major decision to pursue his cricketing career in Australia. He started with grade cricket there and subsequently carved a niche for himself through stellar performances for Tasmania and the Hobart Hurricanes. He has also won the Big Bash League (BBL) title with the Hobart Hurricanes.
How Did Nikhil Chaudhary Play For Australia Without Citizenship?
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According to an ESPNcricinfo report, Nikhil Chaudhary currently holds neither Australian permanent residency (PR) nor citizenship. He possesses only a temporary work visa that is valid until 2027.
Nevertheless, he was able to play for Australia because, under ICC rules, his continuous five-year residency in the country made him eligible to play international cricket for them.Nikhil Chaudhary Takes Wicket on Debut as Australia Wins 1st T20I
Nikhil Chaudhary bowled impressively in his debut match against Bangladesh, claiming a wicket. As for the match itself, Australia bowled Bangladesh out for 131 runs in 19 overs, driven by a strong performance from the spinners. In response, Cooper Connolly played a brilliant innings of 47 runs, guiding Australia to victory by reaching a score of 133 for 6 in 18.2 overs.
Only Third Indian-Origin Cricketer to Represent Australia
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Nikhil Chaudhary has become only the third cricketer of Indian origin in history to play international cricket for Australia. Before him, only two players had achieved this unique milestone:
- Rex Sellers: A former cricketer born in Gujarat.
- Lisa Sthalekar: A legendary Australian female cricketer born in Pune.
Also Read: Oldest Footballers to Score a Hat-Trick in FIFA World Cup History
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