New Delhi, September 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India-born Australian cricketer Nikhil Chaudhary has set his sights on making his ODI debut for Australia, with the 2027 ODI World Cup emerging as his primary target.
The Delhi-born spin-bowling all-rounder is the first India-born male cricketer in six decades to represent Australia. He made his T20I debut for Australia against Bangladesh in June and featured in three matches, taking three wickets.
Chaudhary will soon be in action for Australia A against India A in an unofficial one-day series as he looks to strengthen his case for a place in Australia’s ODI setup.
“I want to play 50-over cricket and, if I get a chance, Tests too. My first target is the 2027 ODI World Cup, and then the T20 World Cup the following year. I want to represent Australia for as long as I can,” Chaudhary said, as quoted by Cricinfo.
Chaudhary settled in Australia after being stranded there during the Covid-19 pandemic. Having made his List A and T20 debuts for Punjab, he continued his cricketing journey in Australia and has since established himself across domestic formats.
He made his Big Bash League debut for Hobart Hurricanes in 2023 before making his first-class debut for Tasmania in 2025.
The all-rounder enjoyed a productive Sheffield Shield 2025-26 season, scoring 393 runs in 13 innings. He scored an unbeaten 76 on his first-class debut and later produced a standout 163 against New South Wales.
Asked about representing Australia instead of India, Chaudhary said his primary ambition had always been to play cricket at the highest possible level.
“It doesn’t really matter to me because I just wanted to play cricket. If you see, most players never get to represent their country. They finish their careers playing domestic cricket. Some move to another country to play club cricket. So, if you love cricket, you just want to play cricket; it doesn’t matter for whom,” he said.
Chaudhary, who has also been a regular in franchise cricket, said his approach remains focused on hard work and contributing to his team’s success.
“My plan has always been the same: work hard, give your best, and try to make your team win. Whatever opportunity you get, you try to perform,” he said.
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