Did Deepti Sharma Just Become the Highest Wicket-Taker in Women’s T20Is?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Deepti Sharma becomes the highest wicket-taker in women's T20Is.
- She surpasses Megan Schutt with her 152nd wicket.
- India claims a 5-0 series victory over Sri Lanka.
- Deepti is the first to score 1,000 runs and take 150 wickets in T20Is.
- She is ranked No. 1 in ICC Women’s T20I all-rounder rankings.
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 30 (NationPress) - Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma made history by becoming the highest wicket-taker in women's T20 Internationals, achieving her 152nd wicket during the fifth T20I against Sri Lanka on Tuesday in Thiruvananthapuram. This remarkable feat allowed Deepti to surpass Megan Schutt from Australia, who held the previous record at 151 wickets. Deepti took the crucial wicket of Nilakshika Silva in the 14th over, aiding India in clinching a decisive 5–0 series victory at home.
Following her, Nida Dar from Pakistan ranks third with 144 wickets across 152 innings. Among Indian bowlers, Radha Yadav is the second-highest wicket-taker, with 103 wickets in 86 innings. Currently, Deepti and Radha are the only two Indian bowlers to have crossed the 100 T20I wickets milestone.
This week, the 28-year-old also became the first cricketer, male or female, to achieve both 1,000 runs and 150 wickets in T20 Internationals. Ranked No. 1 in the ICC Women’s T20I all-rounder rankings, Deepti has played 133 T20Is for India and was named player of the tournament in the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup, where India secured its first title on home soil.
India defended a target of 175 runs to win by 15 runs, completing a clean sweep of the series. Deepti ended the match with figures of 1 for 28 from four overs. Beyond T20I records, she has claimed 20 wickets in Tests and 162 in ODIs.
Deepti has also become a prominent figure in the Women’s Premier League auction, rejoining UP Warriorz for ₹3.2 crore, marking the second-highest bid in league history.
In the rankings, Deepti continues to lead among T20I bowlers, while Hayley Matthews from the West Indies remains a strong contender among T20I all-rounders.
For Sri Lanka, left-handed opener Hasini Perera has significantly improved her position in the batter rankings, moving up 114 places to 71st after notable performances in the series, while Kavisha Dilhari has made a slight gain to reach 79th.
With India taking a commanding 4-0 lead in the five-match series and aiming for a complete whitewash on Tuesday, the rankings reflect their dominance as both batters and bowlers are on the rise.