Dinesh Salunkhe, nicknamed ‘Bad Man’, is a 25-year-old cricket player from Mumbai who burst on to the scene in December 2006 when he was selected to be a part of the Cricket Star Academy. Given the opportunity of a lifetime, Salunkhe learned from likes of Kapil Dev, Sanjay Manjerakar, Geoffery Boycott, Monty Panesr, and Waqar Younis. He was then chosen the 'Man of Series' of the first ever cricket talent hunt and reality show, Cricket Star.
Salunkhe’s 'Man of Series' win entitled him to an English summer training and coaching with Leicestershire County Cricket Club. He played for Little Thorpe and Narbourough club at Leicester scoring 287 runs and taking 28 wicket over eight matches.
A leg-spinner and all-rounder, Dinesh Salunkhe, was one of the 23 contestants in the "Cricket Star". His performance on the cricket reality show and the praise of former cricketers also drew the attention of Rajasthan Royals, the Indian Premier League’s Twenty20 team from Jaipur.
Dinesh Salunkhe was drafted in by the Royals and he made six match appearances for the eventual champions in the course of the season. Batting lower down the order, Salunkhe managed an impressive 26 not out in one of his three batting performances. With the ball, Salunkhe had a forgettable tournament, picking up just one wicket at an average of 78.00 and economy rate of 9.75.
