India All-Rounder Deepti Sharma: India all-rounder Deepti Sharma is on the brink of history, needing just one more wicket to become the leading wicket-taker in women’s T20 Internationals.
Currently tied with Australia’s Megan Schutt at 151 wickets, Deepti can achieve the landmark during the fifth and final T20I against Sri Lanka at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
India already leads the series 4-0. Deepti is also the first cricketer, men’s or women’s, to complete 1,000 runs and 150 wickets in T20Is, underlining her status as one of the game’s greatest all-rounders.
Level With Megan Schutt, History Beckons
Deepti Sharma is currently tied with Australia’s Megan Schutt at 151 T20I wickets, the joint-highest tally in the format. One more scalp will see the Indian star stand alone at the top, achieving a landmark that underlines her remarkable consistency and longevity in the shortest format.
Earlier in the series, Deepti became the first-ever Indian cricketer—across both men’s and women’s cricket—to reach 150 wickets in T20Is. She achieved the feat during the third T20I after dismissing Sri Lanka’s Kavisha Dilhari, a moment that further cemented her legacy.
Elite Numbers in T20 Cricket
Across 132 T20I matches, Deepti has picked up 151 wickets at an impressive average of 18.94, with best bowling figures of 4/10. Her control, variations, and ability to strike in crucial phases have made her one of the most reliable bowlers in world cricket.
Her spell of 3/18 in the third T20I was not just match-defining but also historic. It helped her surpass Australian great Ellyse Perry to become the third-highest wicket-taker in women’s international cricket overall.
Closing In on Jhulan Goswami and Katherine Brunt
With 333 international wickets, Deepti now trails only two legends in the all-time women’s wicket charts:
- Jhulan Goswami – 355 wickets (291 matches)
- Katherine Sciver-Brunt – 335 wickets (275 matches)
Given her age and form, Deepti is well within reach of climbing even higher on this elite list.
Strong Record in ODIs and Tests
Deepti’s impact extends well beyond T20 cricket. In women’s ODIs, she is the eighth-highest wicket-taker overall and India’s second-best behind Jhulan Goswami. She has claimed 162 wickets in 121 ODIs at an average of 27.32, including best figures of 6/20, along with three four-wicket hauls and four five-wicket hauls.
In the longest format, Deepti has taken 20 wickets in five Tests at an outstanding average of 18.10, with both a four-for and a five-for to her name.
A Once-in-a-Generation All-Round Feat
Adding another feather to her cap, Deepti Sharma recently became the first cricketer in history—men’s or women’s—to complete 1,000 runs and 150 wickets in T20 Internationals. Alongside her 151 wickets, she has scored 1,100 runs in the format at an average of 23.40 and a strike rate of 104.26, including two half-centuries.
Eyes on Thiruvananthapuram
As India looks to complete a clean sweep against Sri Lanka, the spotlight will firmly remain on Deepti Sharma. One wicket is all that separates her from a global T20I bowling record, a milestone that would further elevate her status as one of the greatest all-rounders the game has ever seen.
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