Nepalese cricketer Dipender Singh Airee has not only his home country in ODIs and T20Is but marked a significant feat through his games. For instance, he broke the 16-year-old world record for the fastest T20 fifty by Yuvraj Singh after scoring 50 in only nine balls.
Known for his all-round abilities, the Kanchanpur native cricketer is a right-handed batsman and an effective right-arm leg-spin bowler. For his aggressive batting skills, he goes by the nickname “The Tiger.”
From village cricket grounds to international pitches before his mid-20s, Dipendra has established himself as one of the team’s most promising young talents.
He was one of 11 players to make Nepal’s debut in the ODI in 2018 against the Netherlands, alongside Anil Sah, Paras Khadka, Sandeep Lamichhane, Karan KC, and Sompak Kami.
In addition to playing for Nepal’s national cricket team, he plays domestic games for the Gulf Giants (of Dubai) and Vancouver Knights (of Global T20 Canada).
Key Takeaways:
- Dipendra Singh Airee wanted to become a soldier but later got into cricket.
- His parents didn’t want their son to be a cricketer, but his seniors inspired Airee.
- When Airee was preparing for his Grade 11 final exams, he was called to play in the Nepal Premier League and chose the latter.
- He debuted for the national team in March 2017 and played in the ODI in 2018.
- He broke Yuvraj Singh’s 16-year-long fastest fifty in the T20 in September 2023, scoring 50 runs in nine balls.
- Airee hit six consecutive sixes in an over against Qatar in April 2024 in the ACC Premier Cup.
Dipendra Singh Airee Aspired To Become A Soldier: Parents Did Not Want Him To Pursue Cricket
Born on August 12, 2000, in Tilachaur, Mahendranagar, Kanchanpur, Nepal, Dipendra initially wanted to become a soldier. Growing up, he admired the discipline and honor associated with military service.
However, fate had another career waiting for him, which became his cup of tea: cricket.
Airee, who stands 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m), is 24 years old and is one of Nepal’s most desired and proficient cricket players. He has made his country and family proud.
However, during the initial days of his career, his parents were not keen on him taking up cricket as his career. Eventually, his dedication and hard work paid off!
Meanwhile, Airee rarely talks about his family members in the media, so there are no details regarding his parents. Dipendra has five siblings: Himal, Asha, Asmita, Lata, and Rajmati.
His sister, Rajmati, is also a cricket player who has already represented Nepal in various competitions, including the Women’s Asia Cup. Airee is quite active on social media and sometimes features his family members on his social media posts.
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Dipendra Singh Airee Career Journey: Served In Police While Also Playing Cricket
The Tilachaur native developed an interest in cricket at a young age when he saw his seniors play in his hometown. Airee played his first tournament in Grade 7, organized by the Private and Boarding Schools Organisation Nepal (PABSON).
A year later, he again participated in the same tournament and won the player-of-the-series award. When Airee was in Grade 11, he was called to play in the Nepal Premier League.
So, rather than appearing in the final exam and continuing his studies, he decided to appear in the tournament. In 2014, he was called to the U-19 side. His hard work paid off three years later when he got his maiden call-up to the national team.
While playing for the national side, Airee also served in the police as a constable.
In March 2017, Dipendra debuted for the national side in the World Cricket League Championship match against Kenya, organized at Tribhuvan University cricket ground.
On July 19, 2018, Airee made his T20I debut against the Netherlands.
Less than a month later, on August 1, 2018, he debuted in Nepal’s first-ever ODI match against the Netherlands. He made 33 runs in a defeat in which Nepal fell behind by 55 runs (the target was 189 runs).
After Paras Khadka, Nepal’s iconic cricketer, resigned as captain in 2019, Airee was appointed vice-captain of the national side. This came after Gyanendra Malla was promoted to captaincy following Khadka’s departure.
Then, at the 2019 South Asian Games, Dipendra was part of the national team when they won a bronze medal after beating the Maldives by five wickets.
Fast forward to 2023, he rang a bell to the world after scoring the fastest 50 runs (from nine balls) in the T20I, breaking Yuvraj Singh’s 16-year-old world record.
Thanks to his achievements, the Nepal police promoted him from police constable to assistant head constable.
Notable Achievements:
- On April 13, 2024, during the ACC Men’s Premier Cup, Airee became the third player in T20 International history to hit six consecutive sixes in one over.
- Airee previously smashed the record for the fastest fifty in T20I history, achieving it in just nine balls during the 2023 Asian Games against Mongolia.
- He played a crucial role in Nepal’s historic first-ever One Day International (ODI) match against the Netherlands in 2018.
- In September 2023, Dipendra scored his first T20I century, becoming the first Nepalese cricketer to do so, scoring 110 off 52 balls.
- Dipendra scored his first century in an ODI match with 105 runs in the second match of a two-match series against Papua New Guinea on March 26, 2022.
- Airee achieved his first T20I century with 110 runs against Malaysia in the final round-robin match of the tri-series on April 2, 2022.
Airee’s Cricket Stats (ODIs and T20I)
Since his debut in the ODI in 2018, Dipendra has played in 56 matches and scored 904 runs, averaging 18.83. As for his bowling stats, he bowled 50 innings and took 38 wickets on an economy of 3.95.
As of this writing, Dipendra Sigh Airee has played in 74 T20I matches and scored 1725 runs, averaging 34.50. He has also bowled 49 innings in T20Is, taking 49 wickets and having an economy of 5.98.
See More: Gulsan Jha Biography: First And Youngest Nepalese Cricketer To Haul Five Wickets In ODI
Does Dipendra Singh Airee Have A Girlfriend? Relationship Status
Dipendra Singh Airee is currently single, and there is no news of him having a romantic affair with anyone. Airee has never been linked to anyone, and it can be confirmed that he has not dated anyone in the past, either.
Dipendra is at the peak of his career. Till now, Airee has not mentioned anything about his love life on social media as he is highly aware of his privacy.
Meanwhile, he mainly shares updates about his professional life. Likewise, Airee enjoys time with his family members and friends during his spare time.
Dipendra can be followed on Instagram under the username @dipendraairee45, gaining over 80k followers.
People Also Ask
Dipendra Singh Airee’s net worth has not been shared but is estimated to be in the six-digit figure.
He stands 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) tall.
His salary at Nepal’s national team is NPR 100,000.
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