Chaudhary replaces Travis Head in Australia T20I squad

Nikhil Chaudhary, a 30-year-old all-rounder born in Delhi, India, has received his first call-up to the Australian men's national cricket team for the upcoming T20 International series against Bangladesh. His selection, announced on June 11, 2026, comes as a replacement for Travis Head, who withdrew from the tour on personal leave. If he takes the field, Chaudhary would become the first Indian-born male cricketer to represent Australia in over six decades.

Chaudhary, a leg-spinning all-rounder who plays for Tasmania and the Hobart Hurricanes, will join the squad in Dhaka on Friday. His journey to national selection is a notable one, having moved to Australia in 2020 to visit family just before international borders closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He chose to remain in the country, initially working various jobs while pursuing cricket through grade and state competitions.

His breakthrough came with the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League (BBL), where he became a key player and fan favorite. Chaudhary played a significant role in the Hurricanes' BBL title-winning campaign in the 2024-25 season, a performance that caught the attention of national selectors. He has since...