India’s world-class spin all-rounder Deepti Sharma became the highest wicket-taker in women’s T20Is after taking a stunning five-wicket haul against Pakistan in the team’s 2026 T20 World Cup opener at Edgbaston.
She went past Thailand left-arm spinner Thipatcha Putthawong’s 165-wicket mark, to end the match with 166 scalps at a brilliant average of 19.42 with an economy rate of 6.29. Her spell of 5/10 were the third-best figures in the tournament history.
Deepti’s first breakthrough came when Gull Feroza attempted a reverse sweep but failed to control the shot, offering a catch at the backward point. It helped India break a good opening partnership.
Deepti struck again in her next over as Ayesha Zafar miscued a sweep and was caught by Smriti Mandhana
at short fine leg, again a result of the spinner building pressure first and then exploiting it with a wicket.
After a tight middle spell that kept the pressure on Pakistan’s batters, Deepti returned to finish the innings in style. She removed the dangerous Aliya Riaz with a slower, full delivery that resulted in a catch at deep midwicket by Jemimah Rodrigues.
Just two balls later, Tasmia Rubab fell in an identical fashion, holing out to the same fielder while trying to clear the boundary. Deepti then sealed both her five-for and India’s victory by dismissing Nashra Sandhu, who swept straight to Harmanpreet Kaur at short midwicket.
“I am very grateful,” Deepti said after the match after collecting the Player of the Match award. “I like these kind of wickets. All credit goes to the team, and I am very grateful. Hanuman Ji is great… Because it’s turning, so I varied my pace in every ball and every over. That helped me a lot. I knew I had to bowl a little bit slower in the air, and just believing in myself and bowling in the right areas. That’s what I was doing, yeah… I was not worried about when I didn’t get wickets, but I always believe in myself that whenever the right time comes, I’ll step up for the team, and that’s how I play and bowl,” she added.
