Nepal decimated the Mongolian cricket team in the ongoing Asian Games to become the first team in the T20 internationals to cross 300 runs in an innings. Dipendra Singh Airee played a key role in that huge total by knocking up the fastest T20I fifty ever in just nine balls. He belted eight sixes in his blistering knock that led him to break the record held by Yuvraj Singh in T20Is. Nepal also won by 273 runs, which is the highest-ever winning margin in T20I cricket. Here we have covered everything you need to know about Dipendra Singh Airee, the man who broke Yuvraj Singh’s record of fastest half-century in T20Is.
Everything about Dipendra Singh Airee
1- Dipendra Singh Airee is a middle-order batter and an off-spinner who plays for the Nepal Cricket Team. He was born on 24th January 2000 and is currently only 23 years old.
2- Dipendra Singh Airee holds the record of scoring the fastest half-century ever in T20I cricket. He broke the record of Yuvraj Singh by scoring 50 in just 9 balls against Mongolia in the Asian Games 2023. Earlier, Yuvraj held the record of the fastest fifty in T20Is by scoring the 50 in just 12 balls against England in the 2007 T20I World Cup.
3- Dipendra Singh Airee is also the first Nepali cricketer to hit six consecutive sixes in T20Is. He achieved the feat against Mongolia in the Asian Games.
4- Having participated in the 2016 U-19 World Cup, Dipendra Singh achieved his senior-team debut at the age of 17 when Nepal faced Kenya in 2017. He played a pivotal role in the core team that contributed to Nepal achieving ODI status in 2018.
5- Initially, Dipendra Singh’s senior team career primarily revolved around his batting skills, with only one occasion of bowling in his first 22 T20Is and a limited presence in ODIs under Khadka’s captaincy. However, following the Covid pandemic and the resumption of Nepal’s fixtures, his disciplined off-spin became an integral part of the team’s strategy.
6- Airee not only started consistently bowling his full quota of overs but also proved to be both economical and effective as a wicket-taker. This performance dispelled any doubts about his place in the team, even during phases of inconsistent batting form.
7- Nevertheless, perhaps Dipendra Singh’s most valuable asset lies in his electrifying fielding skills. Whether positioned inside the ring during the powerplay or patrolling the boundary during the crucial slog overs at the death, Airee possesses a magnetic presence for the ball, consistently delivering sensational catches and executing spectacular run-outs.