Chaudhary, who has played domestic cricket for Punjab and represented India at the under-19 level, picked up his first BBL wicket when he dismissed Cameron Bancroft with a splendid catch off his own bowling during Hobart Hurricanes’ home game with Thunder.

Bowling his first over, off-spinner Chaudhary conceded six runs in his first five balls before getting the wicket of Bancroft, who had been batting at a run-a-ball 20. Bancroft looked to play the full-length delivery over the bowler, but did not get the desired height as an alert Chaudhary latched onto the catchable ball going down his right.

He immediately threw the ball up in the air and celebrated by doing a thigh-five, which has been made famous by Shikhar Dhawan.

Chaudhary, 27, had earlier impressed with the bat in his first outing in the BBL, hitting a 31-ball 40 against Perth Scorchers before taking apart Haris Rauf in the next clash against Melbourne Stars, where he made 32 in just 16 deliveries.

He ended the game with figures of 2-26, also dismissing Nathan McAndrew on seven.

Chaudhary, who played for Punjab till 2019, was stuck in Australia during the Covid-19, an experience that caused him to pursue cricket in the country. Over the next few years, he emerged as a big-hitting all-rounder, recently smashing 71 off 28 balls in the T20 Max semi-final.

James Hopes, his coach at Northern Suburbs as well as part of the coaching staff at the Hurricanes, recommended Chaudhary’s name to the franchise ahead of the season, and he made his debut in the BBL soon after.

Overall, Chaudhary has picked up nine wickets in 16 T20s and has struck at 139. He has also played two List A games for Punjab in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Watch Nikhil Chaudhary pick up his first wicket in BBL here:

First BBL wicket for Nikhil Chaudhary 🙌

You've got to admire the celebration too! #BBL13 pic.twitter.com/PeD4cTiKYY

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 1, 2024