Did Deepti Sharma Just Make Cricket History?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Deepti Sharma has made history in T20I cricket.
- She is the first player to achieve 1000 runs and 150 wickets.
- Harmanpreet Kaur praised her accomplishment.
- India leads the T20I series against Sri Lanka 3-0.
- Deepti was named Player of the Tournament at the ICC Women's World Cup.
New Delhi, Dec 27 (NationPress) India's phenomenal all-rounder Deepti Sharma has etched her name in the annals of cricket history by becoming the first player globally, in both men's and women's T20I formats, to amass 1000 runs and secure 150 wickets. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her admiration for this remarkable achievement, dubbing it as ‘total magic.’
Deepti accomplished this historic milestone during the third T20I against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, underscoring her reputation as one of the most adaptable white-ball cricketers.
Upon sharing a striking graphic of Deepti on her Instagram story, Harmanpreet commented, “This is total magic. Well done Deepti.”
With a stellar three-wicket haul, Deepti now shares the record for the most wickets in women’s T20I history, tying with Australia’s Megan Schutt at 151 wickets. The 28-year-old claimed her 150th wicket by dismissing Sri Lanka’s Kavisha Dilhari in the 14th over.
India clinched a decisive 3-0 series lead with an impressive eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the third T20I at Greenfield International Stadium. Shafali Verma was the star of the show, scoring an unbeaten 79 off 42 balls, hitting 11 fours and 3 sixes to chase down Sri Lanka’s modest total with 6.4 overs remaining. Earlier, India’s bowling attack, led by Renuka Singh Thakur (4/21) and Deepti (3/18), restricted the visitors to 112/7.
India faced early setbacks with Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues dismissed cheaply, but Shafali remained steadfast. After a cautious beginning, she unleashed a fierce assault on the Sri Lankan bowlers, reaching her fifty in just 24 balls. Captain Harmanpreet contributed a solid 21 not out, sealing yet another convincing victory for India and marking their fourth consecutive T20I series win over Sri Lanka.
Deepti’s recent performances have sparked widespread discussion. She was named Player of the Tournament at the 2025 ICC Women's World Cup, where she emerged as the leading wicket-taker, playing a pivotal role in India’s first world title victory on home soil.
Additionally, she made headlines during the Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction, where UP Warriorz secured her services for Rs 3.2 crore, the second-highest bid in league history.