Deepti Sharma Makes History as India Cruises to Dominant T20 Asia Cup Win
DUBAI: Indian cricket stalwart Deepti Sharma etched her name into the record books on Sunday, delivering a legendary bowling performance that saw her crowned the world’s leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20 International cricket.
Her historic feat anchored India’s commanding 94-run victory over Thailand as the team kicked off their Women’s T20 Asia Cup campaign in emphatic fashion.
A Record-Breaking Milestone
Playing in her landmark 150th T20I—making her only the third Indian woman after Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana to reach the milestone—Deepti was simply unplayable. She finished with staggering figures of 3/0, claiming three wickets without conceding a single run across her seven deliveries.
This spell allowed her to surpass Thailand’s Thipatcha Putthawong at the top of the global charts. Deepti now boasts 171 career wickets, solidifying her status as the most prolific bowler in the format’s history.
Her performance was historic on several fronts:
- Elite Economy: Deepti became the first Indian bowler to claim three or more wickets without conceding a single run in a Women’s T20I.
- Best Ever for India: Her 3/0 figures eclipsed the previous record held by Renuka Singh (3/5 vs. Sri Lanka in 2022).
- Global Supremacy: With 171 wickets, she now sits ahead of Thipatcha Putthawong (170), Rwanda’s Henriette Ishimwe (164), and England’s Sophie Ecclestone (154).
Shafali’s Fireworks and a Dramatic Middle-Order Collapse
While Deepti stole the headlines with the ball, the match began with explosive batting from opener Shafali Verma. The hard-hitting batter smashed a blistering 64 off just 36 deliveries, including eight boundaries and three sixes. Her rapid 26-ball half-century propelled India past the 100-run mark in just 10 overs.
However, the innings took a turn following a middle-order collapse triggered by Thai leg-spinner Suleeporn Laomi, who claimed 3/26. India lost seven wickets for a mere 29 runs, sliding from 108/2 to 137/9. A late cameo from Kranti Gaud (15* off 8) eventually pushed India to a defendable total of 159/9.
Clinical Defense
Thailand’s response was quickly stifled by a disciplined Indian attack. Nandani Sharma (3/18) and debutant Kranti Gaud made early inroads, while Shree Charani chipped in with 2/10. Deepti Sharma then returned in the 17th over to dismantle the tail, dismissing wicketkeeper-batter Nannapat Koncharoenkai with her first ball to seal the victory.
Following this dominant performance, India secures two valuable points in Group A and will look to maintain their momentum in their upcoming clash against Hong Kong this Thursday.
