Nikhil Chaudhary performed brilliantly in his debut match. (Photo-Albert Perez/Getty Images)
Nikhil Chaudhary’s Journey: The 29-year-old spinner, who has played for Punjab in the Under-16, Under-19 and Under-22 teams, has got a chance to debut in Australia. Born in Delhi in 1996, this bowler got a place in Punjab’s Ranji team, but he did not get a chance to debut in the first class. Now this bowler is busy making his dreams come true in Australia. During this, spinner Nikhil Chaudhary says that if he had stayed in India, his career would have been spoiled.
What did Nikhil Chaudhary say?
In an interview given to TOI, Tasmania’s spinner Nikhil Chaudhary said that the best decision of his life was that even after the removal of Corona, he Australia I stopped, it was all God’s plan. He said, “I have no regrets in saying that my stay in Australia changed my life and my cricket. Had I been in India, my cricket career would have been ruined. You know how it goes? Talent and performance don’t matter – you need strong recommendations to play cricket.” Nikhil Chaudhary started his cricket career with Punjab team.
Nikhil has played for Punjab
29 year old Nikhil Chaudhary has now recovered from the trauma he suffered while playing for Punjab in Indian domestic cricket. Nikhil has represented Punjab in Under-16, Under-19 and Under-22. Apart from this, he got some opportunities for Punjab in limited overs format also. He managed to make a place in the Ranji Trophy team, but he did not get a chance to play first class cricket. He got his first experience of first class cricket in Australia.
The left-arm spinner earlier this month Matthew Kuhneman Was selected in Australia’s team to play against New Zealand. After this, doors also opened for Nikhil, who had not played red ball cricket for two years. He told that two days before our match against Queensland, I was called by the selectors of Tasmania and told that I have been selected for the Sheffield Shield. I was not expecting this because I had not played red ball cricket for almost two years. In club matches, I was concentrating only on the white ball game.
Took 5 wickets in the first match
Nikhil Chaudhary further said that some people’s eyebrows were raised on my selection. Some were happy, some not. Matthew Wade came to help me and when I was given the debut cap, he told me to play like you play in limited overs. These words of assurance gave Chaudhary some relief, but it was not enough. During this time, Tasmania’s bowling coach James Hopes asked me to bowl fast.
“It worked and I took five wickets in my first match,” says Chaudhary. He said that there was still one more turn left. On the last day I had high fever and Tasmania was in danger of defeat, while Queensland was looking for an innings victory.
Nikhil saved the match like this
During the tea break on the fourth day, the coach asked me to rest and asked the number 9, 10 and 11 batsmen to wear pads. During this time Nikhil was going through many types of emotions. He started thinking about the time when he was stuck in Australia during Covid, the small jobs he did to survive. Now he had an opportunity to further extend the confidence shown in him by Tasmania Cricket.
Nikhil said, “I took medicine and told everyone that I can still save this match. I went on the field and played my natural game. I returned unbeaten after scoring 76 runs on 80 balls and we got the match drawn.” The best thing during this time was that head selector George Bailey was also watching the match.
Was happy to play debut match
Nikhil Aga told that despite his excellent performance, he was not sure whether he would be selected for the next match or not, because Matthew Kuhneman was coming back. He said, “He is an Australian cricketer, and you have to make room for international players. There is no harm in that. I was just happy to make my first-class debut”.
But Kuhnemann, who is also known as Australia’s ‘Jaddu’ (Ravindra Jadeja), was selected for the three-match limited overs series against India and I got another chance, he said. However, my performance against Western Australia was disappointing.
This is how Nikhil Chaudhary came into limelight
Nikhil Chaudhary came into limelight when he hit a six over backward point off Pakistani fast bowler Haris Rauf and celebrated by hitting a high-five after taking a wicket for Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL. After this he performed well in the Dean Jones Cup (List A) and then made his first class debut. Nikhil told that when I decided to live in Australia, I had to work somewhere. I got a job cutting vegetables in a Mexican restaurant. I called my mother for help.
He told that I had never cut a slice of lemon in my life and as my mother had predicted, my fingers got cut. The restaurant staff understood my plight, and then I was given a big knife and asked to cut the meat. He told that one job was not enough. I worked for Australia Post, where I delivered parcels door-to-door. Then he also drove Uber for some time before getting the BBL contract in the year 2023. However, Nikhil still has an unfulfilled dream. He wants to play in the Australian team. He is confident that in 18 months, he will be wearing that yellow and gold jersey.