Nikhil Chaudhary (cricketer)

Nikhil Chaudhary (born 4 May 1996) is an Indian-born cricketer. He currently plays in the Big Bash League (BBL) for the Hobart Hurricanes. He is only the second India-born cricketer to play in the BBL, following Unmukt Chand.

Early life
Chaudhary was born in Delhi, India. Chaudhary moved to Punjab in his early years. Initially aspiring to be a fast bowler, he later shifted to offspin and ultimately to legspin, while also developing as an aggressive batsman.

Career
By 2017, Chaudhary had emerged in Indian domestic cricket as a batting all-rounder. He made his Twenty20 debut for Punjab in the 2016–17 Inter State Twenty-20 Tournament on 29 January 2017. Despite training under cricketers such as Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh in Punjab, his career in India did not lead to an IPL selection, with unsuccessful trials at Mumbai Indians.

His career took a turn when he was stranded in Brisbane during the COVID-19 pandemic while he was on a travel visa. During this period, he actively participated in club cricket, gaining notice for his performance, especially in a semi-final where he hit seven sixes. The performance led to his inclusion in the BBL after a recommendation from a local coach. During this period, he also worked various jobs in Brisbane, including a brief period at a Mexican restaurant and a longer tenure as a courier with Australia Post to support himself.

In 2023, after playing grade cricket in Brisbane, Chaudhary joined the Hobart Hurricanes of the Big Bash League for the 2023–24 season.

Legal issues
In March 2024, Chaudhary stood trial in the District Court of Queensland on a charge of raping a woman in his car in Townsville in 2021, and was found not guilty. The Hobart Hurricanes said they were unaware of the charges before the trial started.