Deepti Sharma: India’s star all-rounder Deepti Sharma etched her name into the record books once again, producing a match-winning spell against Pakistan in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 opener at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
The Numbers That Matter
Deepti’s fifth wicket in the match was her 166th in WT20Is, taking her past Thailand’s Thipatcha Putthawong, who had held 165 scalps. The achievement made her the highest-ever wicket-taker in WT20I cricket history.
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- Match figures: 4-0-10-5, the best-ever T20I bowling figures by an Indian woman
- She surpassed Jhulan Goswami’s previous record of 5/11 from 2012
- Three wickets came in her final over alone, sealing a 64-run win for India
Joining Jhulan Goswami at the Summit
Beyond the WT20I record, the spell pushed Deepti into rarefied company across formats. With this performance, Deepti became only the second bowler in history, both Indians, to surpass 350 international wickets, standing at 354 wickets and closing in on Jhulan Goswami’s tally of 355. She is also the first specialist spinner worldwide to cross the 350-wicket mark across formats.
Context of the Win
“Three wickets in the final over, 5-wicket haul in the game, now the leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20Is” – widely shared cricket commentary following the match
Smriti Mandhana’s 68 off 44 balls, along with contributions from Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh, had earlier helped India post 170-6, setting up the platform for Deepti’s record-breaking spell.
The Bigger Picture
Deepti Sharma: Deepti’s rise has been steady and relentless — from becoming the first Indian to 100 T20I wickets in 2023, to now standing on the cusp of becoming the all-time leading wicket-taker in women’s international cricket. With Jhulan Goswami’s 355-wicket tally just one away, India’s all-rounder looks set to rewrite history yet again as the World Cup campaign progresses.
