Nikhil Chaudhary, who played domestic cricket for Punjab and recently scored a century for Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield, has been listed incorrectly as a local player for the upcoming IPL 2026 auction.
Born in Delhi, Chaudhary made his professional debut for Punjab in 2017 after participating in several age-group tournaments in India. He played two Vijay Hazare Trophy games for Punjab and 12 T20 games in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he scored 106 runs and took seven wickets. He continued playing Under-23 cricket in India for the state team before Covid-19 struck.
Chaudhary’s career took an unexpected turn when he found himself stranded in Australia during the pandemic after he had gone to visit his uncle. He decided to pursue his cricket Down Under: his skills impressed James Hopes, who then recommended him to various clubs in Australia.
Now 29, Chaudhary has played franchise leagues around the world, such as the Global Super League, Max60 Caribbean, and Abu Dhabi 10, hence, it came as a surprise when his name was enlisted as a local player in the upcoming IPL auction.
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Nikhil Chaudhary incorrectly listed as local player
For the unversed, no local players can have deals in foreign competitions. The BCCI has also mandated that a cricketer needed to have an Indian passport to be eligible to play domestic cricket in India. While it is not certain whether Chaudhary still has an Indian passport, having last played professionally in the country almost six years ago, his appearance in the local players list in the IPL raised eyebrows.
However, sources in the BCCI confirmed to Wisden.com that it had been an error: Chaudhary would be enlisted as an overseas player in the auction, meaning that if he was to be picked, and then selected in the XI by a team, he would be one of the four foreigners allowed in the side.
Alongside Chaudhary, Miles Hammond was also listed as a local player. The Englishman will, however, be in the overseas list on the day of the auction.
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