The TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has been underway. The second round fixtures for the tournament have started. Delhi Capitals (DC) will be hosting the Mumbai Indians (MI) in their second game of the 19th edition of the league at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi. Both teams are doing their practice ahead of the game on Saturday afternoon.
During Friday’s net session, something interesting happened, as Nikhil Chaudhary was spotted in training with the Capitals. The Delhi-born cricketer plays for Tasmania and the Hobart Hurricanes. He joined the auction as an overseas player but went unsold. Nikhil Chaudhary, an Indian born NRI cricketer from Australia, has performed well in the last Big Bash League (BBL) 2025/26 season.
Nikhil Chaudhary set to feature in IPL
There is a possibility of Nikhil Chaudhary replacing Ben Duckett, who recently pulled out of the IPL, to save his international career for England. However, there is no official confirmation on the former’s joining the DC squad for the IPL 2026. It will be interesting to see whether the Aussie all-rounder joins the Capitals squad.
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MI and DC training at the Kotla. Delhi-born Nikhil Chaudhary, who plays for Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes, is here training with Capitals. He had entered the auction as an overseas player but went unsold. #IPL pic.twitter.com/9Pm9b6lTji
— Vivek Krishnan (@vivek9301) April 3, 2026
Nikhil Chaudhary was born in Delhi and later went to Punjab, where he rose through the ranks in 2017 after representing India at the Under-19 level. The all-rounder, however, failed to break into the IPL despite two attempts with the Mumbai Indians. He then flew to Australia with his family in 2020, but was stuck due to the COVID-19 closure in 2019.
Nikhil Chaudhary fortunes changed in Australia
The all-rounder’s career shift happened after he earned a contract from Big Bash League (BBL) franchise Hobart Hurricanes. The 29-year-old cricketer was only the second Indian origin player to play in the BBL after Unmukt Chand. Nikhil has played 36 matches and scored 538 runs at a strike rate of 130, along with 16 wickets as well.
However, in the IPL 2025 mini-auction, he went unsold, and now things might have turned for the Indian born Aussie cricketer. He might be featuring in the IPL 2026 as a replacement for Duckett. It will be an interesting call from the Capitals management to sign Nikhil in the IPL for the rest of the season, after being unsold at the auction.
Ben Duckett was picked by DC for INR 2 crore in the mini-auction last year. Despite knowing the fact that Southpaw will be banned from playing for three years, he pulled out of the toughest T20 league in the world. Duckett apologised to the franchise and the fans as well.
DC is waiting for Mitchell Starc
Delhi Capitals have been struggling with injuries ahead of the IPL. As the franchise’s star pacer, Mitchell Starc, is yet to join the squad, he has not fully recovered from an injury. The Aussie pacer has been crucial for the side last season. DC won their first game in a dramatic fashion as Sameer Rizvi and Tristan Stubbs pulled out a massive win for the side.
The Capitals were 26/4 at one stage, and from there they chased down the target of 142 without losing a wicket. The two batters stitched a partnership of 119 runs and took their team home.
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