National team cricketer Dipendra Singh Airee started playing cricket after watching his seniors play in his hometown. Born in Mahendranagar, the 20-year-old played his first cricket tournament while in Grade 7 in a school-level competition organised by the Private and Boarding Schools Organisation Nepal (PABSON). Airee still remembers his innings in that tournament. "I was out making 15. It was that innings that gave me the confidence that I can do something in cricket," said Airee.

A year later, Airee took part in the same tournament again. He scored 102 runs and also won the player-of-the-series award. Having won his first award for playing the game, Airee was now full of exuberance and wanted to make his name in the sport.

Airee has now become a mainstay middle-order batsman for the national side. He has also skippered the U-19 side. "I always think about how I can contribute to the match before entering the ground," said Airee, who recently featured in the Tilottama Premier League for Rupandehi Paltans.

Growing up, Airee wanted to become a soldier. His parents were also not very keen for their son taking up cricket. But he thinks fate decided his course and he instead took up cricket. He was in Grade 11 and preparing for his final exams when a call-up came to play in the Nepal Premier League (NPL). Airee took the decision to play in the league instead of appearing in the final exam and continuing his studies.

His decision paid off in the year 2014 when Airee was called in the U-19 side. Three years later, he received his maiden call-up in the national team. Since then, there has been no turning back.

Airee made his debut for the national side in the World Cricket League Championship match against Kenya at Tribhuvan University cricket ground in Kirtipur on March, 2017. He has gone on to represent the national team in six ODIs, 15 Twenty20s and 21 List 'A' matches.

Airee has also been made the vice-captain of the national side after Paras Khadka resigned from captaincy and his deputy Gyanendra Malla was named as the captain. Airee feels it has given him extra motivation and further responsibility towards his team. "I am elated to become the vice-captain of the national cricket team. I am also very much aware of the added responsibilities it brings on my shoulder," said Airee. "I will try to repay the faith put on me,” he added.

Now in his twenties, Airee hopes to skipper the national side someday. But before that, he wants to learn from his seniors and become mature enough to take that responsibility. "I have a lot to learn from senior players like Gyanendra Malla and Paras Khadka before I can even think about taking the captain's band," said Airee.

Nicknamed as Kale and DP by his friends, it is not only during the matches that Airee is focused on cricket. He practises at the TU ground with his friends in free time. He takes another middle-order batsman Sharad Vesawkar and former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni as his inspiration. He says winning any game is sweet but defeats also teach him a lesson. "Whenever we lose a game, I always remember Paras Khadka saying to face defeat and prepare for the next match learning from that defeat," said Airee. "I think it has helped me while representing my country, my team and my family in the game," he added.

Airee believes it is important for cricketers to stay fit and remain focused. "Once you get injured, you lose the rhythm and it becomes very difficult to play as before and get back into the team," he said. His parents and relatives are concerned about the physical demand for the game.

"They ask me to take utmost care while playing. They also praise me for my game and such encouraging words about my game from my family and friends drive me to do better," said Airee. He experienced pain in his lower back in the past and also carries an injury in his thumb. "There are risks but I will continue as long as my body allows me to," he said.

Airee has played in all the franchise-based cricket competitions in the country. He remembers winning the game after scoring 22 runs for Expert Dhangadhi Blues in the Pokhara Premier League when his team required 24 runs for victory in the last two overs as the best moment in his franchise-based competition career.

Having represented the country on numerous occasions, Airee has a dream to play in the Indian Premier League alongside another Nepali Sandeep Lamichhane. "I am working hard for it. Hopefully, it pays off," he said.