In an unusual occurrence in the history of IPL, the 29-year-old Indian Nikhil Chaudhary, who was playing full-time first-class and Big Bash cricket in Australia, has obtained registration for the IPL 2026 auction as an Indian player. His status has not only aroused the curiosity of the people but has also created a buzz among the fans and the IPL teams.
Nikhil, an all-rounder born in Delhi and currently aged 29, is in a completely different position, representing Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield, and at the same time, entering the IPL as a domestic pick under Punjab Cricket Association. His journey back into the Indian cricket circuit has been one of the major factors that have driven the world to see him, marking one of the most distinctive routes to the IPL auction shortlist.
A BBL all-rounder registers as an Indian domestic player in the IPL 2026 auction
The saga of Nikhil Chaudhary is not that different from the stories of many other young cricketers dreaming one day to represent India in blue. Starting from age-group cricket to the senior Punjab team, his cricketing journey was on the right path, sharing the dressing room with such players as Yuvraj Singh and rising stars like Shubman Gill.
But his life took a complete turn when the pandemic hit. He traveled to Australia on a tourist visa and was suddenly stuck there without any return date. Fearing that he was losing his cricket career, he made a fresh start and after three years into the 2023-24 season the Hobart Hurricanes picked him up for the Big Bash League.
After two years, he made his first-class debut for Tasmania in October, which included a five-wicket haul on debut and a subsequent century against New South Wales in November.
The leg-spin all-rounder Nikhil, with the IPL 2026 auction just around the corner, has been included in Set 35 (All-Rounders) under the Punjab Cricket Association, which is among the 350 players on the list. His being a domestic Indian talent at foreign leagues has been a major of interest.
Update: But then the BCCI revised the IPL auction list and there, they classified Nikhil Chaudhary as an Australian (overseas) player.