The teenage wonder from Nepal, Dipendra Singh Airee, created history by scoring the fastest fifty in T20I cricket, doing it in just nine balls, in an electrifying display of power hitting. With this incredible feat, he broke the previous record established by Yuvraj Singh of India in the 2007 T20 World Cup match against England. In the Asian Games 2023 match against Mongolia, Dipendra played a lightning-quick innings that left the crowd in awe as he reached 52 runs off just 10 deliveries while remaining unbeaten. His performance was adorned with an incredible eight soaring sixes.
Dipendra Singh Airee, a rising star in Nepali cricket’s post-Paras Khadka period, is distinguished by his characteristic do-rag poking out from under his helmet and his strong batsmanship.
His cricket career began with the 2016 U19 World Cup, and at the juvenile age of 17, he quickly made the jump into the senior ranks, making his debut against Kenya in 2017. His participation was crucial in helping Nepal achieve ODI status in 2018, solidifying his position as an important player.
His utility changed with time after being first praised mostly as a batsman. Khadka served as his captain, and despite only delivering a single over in his first 22 T20 Internationals and a few overs in ODIs, he rarely rolled his arm. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic, Nepal’s matches resumed, and the cricketing scene underwent a change.
The right-handed batter’s controlled off-spin developed became a cornerstone of the team’s plan of attack. Not only did he routinely finish his allotted overs, but he also showed that he could take wickets effectively and with economy. Despite variations in his batting form, this player’s versatility erased any concerns about his place on the team.
The 23-year-old has proven himself in 52 One Day International (ODI) matches, scoring 889 runs at an average of 19.75 and a strike rate of 72. Three half-centuries and a century, along with his maximum score of 105, attest to his ability to lead an innings. He has played in 45 matches in the high-stakes arena of T20 Internationals (T20Is), where he has amassed 1155 runs at an excellent average of 37.25 and a blistering strike rate of 136.84. His 110-run unbroken knock in this format serves as proof of his capacity to take charge of the situation.
India
