| Nikhil Chaudhary | |
| Birth Date: | 4 May 1996 |
| Birth Place: | Delhi, India |
| Batting: | Right-handed |
| Bowling: | Right-arm Off break |
| Role: | All-Rounder |
| Club1: | Punjab |
| Year1: | 2016/17–2018/19 |
| Club2: | Hobart Hurricanes |
| Year2: | 2023/24– |
| Columns: | 2 |
| Column1: | T20 |
| Matches1: | 21 |
| Runs1: | 260 |
| Bat Avg1: | 21.66 |
| 100S/50S1: | 0/1 |
| Top Score1: | 58 |
| Deliveries1: | 270 |
| Wickets1: | 12 |
| Bowl Avg1: | 29.00 |
| Fivefor1: | – |
| Tenfor1: | – |
| Best Bowling1: | 3/36 |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 7/– |
| Column2: | List A |
| Matches2: | 2 |
| Runs2: | 25 |
| Bat Avg2: | 25.00 |
| 100S/50S2: | 0/0 |
| Top Score2: | 14 |
| Deliveries2: | 66 |
| Wickets2: | 1 |
| Bowl Avg2: | 61.00 |
| Fivefor2: | 0 |
| Tenfor2: | 0 |
| Best Bowling2: | 1/32 |
| Catches/Stumpings2: | 0/– |
| Date: | 29 December 2023 |
| Source: | ESPNcricinfo |
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.[1]
Chaudhary was born in Delhi, India.[2] Chaudhary moved to Punjab in his early years.[1] Initially aspiring to be a fast bowler, he later shifted to offspin and ultimately to legspin, while also developing as an aggressive batsman.[1]
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.[3] 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.[1]
His career took a turn when he was stranded in Brisbane during the COVID-19 pandemic while he was on a travel visa.[1] During this period, he actively participated in club cricket, gaining notice for his performance, especially in a semi-final where he hit seven sixes.[1] The performance led to his inclusion in the BBL after a recommendation from a local coach.[1] 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.[1]
In 2023, after playing grade cricket in Brisbane,[4] Chaudhary joined the Hobart Hurricanes of the Big Bash League for the 2023–24 season.[5] [6]
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.[7] [8]