Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes leg-spinning all-rounder Nikhil Chaudhary has received his first Australia T20I squad selection, stepping in as a replacement for the rested Travis Head.
Chaudhary, 30, was born in India and began his domestic career with Punjab between 2017 and 2019. He featured in 14 matches for the state, including 12 T20 outings in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and two List A appearances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
He travelled to Australia in 2020 to visit family in Queensland and remained in the country when international borders closed during the Covid pandemic. Chaudhary currently holds a temporary visa valid until 2027. He does not yet have permanent residency or citizenship, but his five years in Australia make him eligible to represent the national side under ICC regulations.
He has built a strong profile in grade cricket and the Big Bash League. Chaudhary was identified by James Hopes — then Hobart Hurricanes bowling coach and now Sydney Sixers coach — while playing club cricket in Brisbane. He has since delivered three productive BBL seasons with the Hurricanes.
Chaudhary played a significant part in Hobart’s BBL title run in 2024–25 and has progressed into Tasmania’s longer formats, making his List A and first-class debuts. He has also recorded his first Sheffield Shield century and maiden five-wicket haul at that level.
Although he trained with Australia’s squad in Brisbane before the tour to Pakistan, Chaudhary was not initially included, with Joel Davies named as the spinning all-rounder option. Head’s absence from the T20 group has now created space for Chaudhary to join the touring party.
National selectors described Chaudhary as a player of interest for some time. He had been on standby for the tour, attended pre-season camps in Brisbane, and was brought in specifically to cover for Head. The panel pointed to his recent BBL form — especially last season — and his involvement with Delhi Capitals during the current IPL as reasons for the call. He is expected to gain useful experience in Bangladesh and could push for a debut in the opening T20 next week.
The last India-born male to play for Australia was leg-spinner Rex Sellers, who appeared in a single Test in Kolkata in 1964. On the women’s side, former Australia captain Lisa Sthalekar — born in Pune — represented the country 187 times across formats.
Australia remain hopeful T20I captain Mitchell Marsh will recover from an ankle injury in time for the T20 series after missing the preceding ODI legs against Pakistan and Bangladesh. Marsh was seen batting in the nets in Dhaka during the second one-day international.
The T20 squad also includes several players who were not part of the ODI group: Davies, Tim David, Spencer Johnson, Josh Philippe, and Aaron Hardie.