India’s veteran spin-bowling all-rounder Deepti Sharma registered a record-breaking fifer in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against Pakistan at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on June 14. Deepti went past Thailand's 22-year-old left-arm spinner Thipatcha Putthawong to become leading wicket-taker in T20Is.
The fifer took Deepti's tally to 166 wickets from 145 T20Is at an average of 19.42. Thipatcha has taken 165 wickets from 105 T20Is already, averaging 8.87.
Among prominent nations in women's world cricket, Australia pacer Megan Schutt is fourth on the list of leading T20I wicket-takers. She has 152 wickets from 125 T20Is at an average of 17.78.
Deepti’s 5/10 is the best bowling figures by an Indian bowler in T20Is. She broke legendary pacer Jhulan Goswami's record. Jhulan had taken five wickets for 11 runs against Australia in 2012. In Women's T20 World Cups, the previous feat belonged to Renuka Singh Thakur who claimed a fifer for 15 runs against England in 2023.
After a nine-ball 12 cameo to help India post 170/6, Deepti broke Pakistan's opening partnership with Gull Feroza's wicket. In her next over, she dismissed Ayesha Zafar. She also ran out Muneeba Ali with a direct hit, followed by wickets of Aliya Riaz, Nashra Sandhu and Tasmia Rubab. Pakistan were bowled out for 106 in 17 overs as they suffered a 64-run defeat.
Deepti was confident of comeback
Before the record-breaking fifer, Deepti was wicketless for two games in the three-T20I series against England. The 28-year-old said that she wasn't worried about not getting wickets.
“I wasn't worried when I didn't get wickets because I knew when the right time would come, I would step up,” Deepti said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Deepti’s chance to create history
Deepti is currently India's second-highest wicket-taker in Women's T20 World Cup history. With 24 wickets from 20 appearances, she is only behind former leg-spinner Poonam Yadav who has 28 wickets from 18 games. As the tournament progresses, the off-spinner has a chance to become India’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament. India's next match is against Netherlands on June 17 at Headingley, Leeds. Netherlands faced a six-wicket defeat in their campaign opener against Bangladesh on June 14.