Birmingham: Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma etched her name in cricket history after delivering a monumental bowling performance against arch-rivals Pakistan during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. Her sensational spell not only guided India to an emphatic 64-run victory in their tournament opener but also allowed her to claim two major world records in women’s cricket.
The versatile spinner completely destroyed the Pakistani batting lineup by picking up five wickets while conceding a mere 10 runs in her quota of four overs. With this incredible performance, Sharma has officially become the highest wicket-taker in the history of Women’s T20 International cricket. She now sits comfortably at the top of the global charts with 166 wickets in 145 matches, surpassing Thailand’s Nattaya Boochatham who previously held the record with 165 wickets.
In addition to her T20I feat, the veteran all-rounder created another massive milestone by becoming the first spin bowler in the history of women’s international cricket to cross the threshold of 350 wickets across all formats. Her lethal spell against Pakistan also registered the best bowling figures by an Indian woman in T20 World Cup history. She surpassed Renuka Singh, who took five wickets for 15 runs against England in 2023, and Priyanka Roy, who registered five wickets for 16 runs back in 2009.
This remarkable achievement earned Sharma the Player of the Match award. The stellar distinction places her third on the list of Indian players with the most Player of the Match awards in Women’s T20 World Cup history. Harmanpreet Kaur currently leads this prestigious national tally with four awards, followed by former captain Mithali Raj who won it three times.
The incredible feat has sent waves of excitement among Indian cricket fans globally, cementing Sharma’s status as a modern-day legend of the game. Her clinical performance has set a dominant tone for Team India as they progress deeper into the World Cup group stages, reassuring fans of a very bright campaign ahead.