Ludhiana: Nikhil Chaudhary, the leg-spinning all-rounder who moved to Australia for a birthday vacation and ended up in its international Twenty20 side, completes a remarkable journey that began in the cricket academies of this Punjab city.He received his maiden international call-up on Wednesday. Born in Delhi in 1996, Chaudhary’s family relocated to Ludhiana in 1999. Raised in a sporting household — his grandfather was a wrestler and his father an athlete — Chaudhary began formal cricket training in 2007 as a Class-V student.“I received a call from Nikhil on Wednesday after the official announcement,” his father, Sneh Kumar Chaudhary, said. “I always wanted him to play internationally considering his dedication. Everyone in the family is so proud.”Chaudhary’s first coach, Charanjeet Bhangu, recalled the gruelling routine that shaped the young player at Arya College and local school grounds. “His routine was rigorous,” Bhangu said. “He practiced twice daily — once before school and once after — and was strict with his diet even at that young age.”The leggie’s career took an unexpected turn just before the Covid-19 pandemic during what was intended to be a routine vacation. The lockdown kept him there.“Nikhil’s trip to Australia was a casual visit for a friend’s birthday and a holiday,” Bhangu said. “However, that visit turned out to be the turning point in his cricket career when he caught the attention of a local Australian grade cricket club.”His grandfather, Kashi Ram, said he always advised the cricketer to focus on longevity. “I always told him to focus on his fitness, be patient with the game, and never lose hope,” Ram said.
