Deepti Sharma (Image Credit: BCCI Women)
New Delhi: India’s all-rounder Deepti Sharma etched her name in the record books with a sensational five-wicket haul as India edged arch rivals Pakistan by 64 runs in the opening match of the Women’s T20 World Cup at the ICC in Edgbaston on Sunday.The 28-year-old off-spinner returned career-best figures of 5/10 in four overs – the best bowling figures by an Indian woman in T20 World Cup history – and became the highest wicket-taker in a women’s T20 International.
Deepti now has 166 wickets from 145 T20Is, surpassing Thailand’s Thipatcha Putthawong, who held the previous record with 165 wickets. Deepti’s five-wicket haul also made her the third Indian bowler to take a five-wicket haul in a Women’s T20 World Cup after Priyanka Roy (5/16 against Pakistan in 2009) and Renuka Singh Thakur (5/15 against England in 2023).
Most wickets in women’s T20Is
- 166- Deepti Sharma (India)*
- 165- Thipacha Puthaung (Thailand)
- 160- Henriette Ishimwe (RWA)
- 152- Megan Shutt (Australia)
- 148 – Or Kamchomphu (THA)
Deepti’s rotating network leaves Pakistan helpless
Chasing 171, Pakistan had no answers to India’s disciplined attack. Apart from Muniba Ali’s battling 41 off 35 balls, the batting line-up struggled to cope with the role and the changing pace on offer.Deepti was virtually unplayable on a surface that increasingly helped slower bowlers. She changed the pace brilliantly and continued to attack the stumps, eliminating Pakistan’s middle and lower order to finish with impressive figures of 5/10.
“I like this kind of wicket. Because it’s spin, I varied my speed on every ball and on every ball, and that helped me a lot,” Dipti said after receiving the man-of-the-match award.“I trusted myself and kept bowling in the right areas. I never worried when I didn’t get a wicket. I always believed that when the time was right, I would step up for the team,” she added.Left-arm spinner Shree Sharani Deepti completed brilliantly with figures of 3/21, while Shafali Verma scored a wicket catch.Five-wicket hauls for IND-W in T20 WCs
- 10/5 – Deepti Chamra vs PAC, Birmingham, 2026*
- 15/5 – Renuka Thakur vs England, Jabha, 2023
- 16/5 – Priyanka Roy vs PAC, Taunton, 2009
Mandhana and Richa propel India to overall win
Earlier, Smriti Mandhana’s elegant 68 off 44 balls set the stage for India as they fell to 18/2. The vice-captain added 91 runs with the captain
Harmanpreet Kaur
(36) to steady the innings before Richa Ghosh provided the late flourish with 34 off just 17 deliveries.The wicket-keeper’s attack in the penultimate over led to 23 runs and helped India post a challenging 170/6.Deepti also praised the batsmen’s contributions, saying, “I especially want to mention the partnership of Smriti and Hari De. That’s where we got the momentum.”India eventually bundled out Pakistan for 106 in their 17 overs to start their campaign in emphatic fashion.
