Dipendra Singh Airee was born on January 24, 2000, in Tilachaur, Bhimdatta Municipality-8, Kanchanpur, Nepal. He grew up playing cricket in the fields of his hometown. The Far-Western region of Nepal has contributed many talented players to Nepali cricket, and Dipendra is one of them. His early performances in domestic cricket showed promise, but it took some time before he gained national recognition.
Rise to Fame
Dipendra first gained widespread attention in 2016 during the U-19 Asia Cup. In a match against Sri Lanka, he played an outstanding innings, scoring 90 runs off 99 balls, including nine fours and one six. Though Nepal lost the match, his performance opened the doors to the national team.
He made his debut for Nepal in the ICC World Cricket League against Kenya in 2017. In his first match, he scored 19 runs from 56 balls. In the second match, he impressed everyone with a well-made 62 runs. This was the beginning of his journey as a key player for Nepal.
Historic Moments in Nepali Cricket
One of the most memorable moments in Dipendra’s career came in the 2017 U-19 Asia Cup. Nepal achieved a historic 19-run victory against India, and Dipendra played a crucial role in that win. He scored 88 runs and took four wickets, making him one of the main heroes of the match.
Over the years, he continued to shine. In 2018, during the ICC ODI World Cup Qualifier play-off match against Papua New Guinea, he scored 50 runs and took four wickets, helping Nepal secure its ODI status.
Captaincy and Domestic Success
Apart from his contributions to the national team, Dipendra proved himself as a great leader in domestic cricket. Under his captaincy, Nepal defeated India in the 2017 U-19 Asia Cup. In 2019, he led CIB Attariya to victory in the Dhangadhi Premier League. In 2023, he guided the Nepal Police Club to gold in the Ninth National Games, and in 2024, under his leadership, the Police Club won the Prime Minister Cup. He also captained Lumbini Stars to victory in the Nepal T20 League.
Record-Breaking Performances
Dipendra has created some of the rarest records in world cricket. During the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, he smashed a half-century in just nine balls against Mongolia, the fastest in cricket history. Another unforgettable moment came during the ACC Men’s Premier Cup, when he hit six consecutive sixes in a single over against Qatar. These records are so unique that breaking them seems nearly impossible.
Overcoming Challenges
Despite his talent, Dipendra faced challenges in his career. In 2019, he was named vice-captain of the Nepal team, but later lost the position due to disputes between players and the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN). However, his dedication never faded, and he made a strong comeback in 2022, playing a key role in Nepal’s T20 World Cup qualifiers.
He scored his first international century in 2022 against Papua New Guinea, making 105 runs. Later, he also scored a century in T20 cricket against Malaysia, with an unbeaten 119 runs. His consistency earned him a place among the top 10 players in ICC rankings, making him the first Nepali cricketer to achieve this milestone.
The Future
Although former head coach Monty Desai played a significant role in shaping Dipendra’s career, Nepal has not played any matches since his departure. However, Dipendra remains one of the team’s key players and is currently ranked second among all-rounders in the ICC T20I rankings. His journey, filled with hard work and determination, has made him one of the greatest all-rounders in Nepali cricket history.
Dipendra Singh Airee is not just a cricketer; he is an inspiration to young players across Nepal. His story is proof that talent, combined with perseverance, can achieve great things.
