On December 30, 2025, at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, Deepti Sharma quietly rewrote the history books.
By dismissing Sri Lanka’s Nilakshika Silva during the fifth T20I, the Indian all-rounder became the highest wicket-taker in the history of Women’s T20 Internationals, moving past Australia’s Megan Schutt. The milestone, achieved during a 5–0 series sweep, was emblematic of a year that firmly placed both Deepti and Indian women’s cricket at the centre of the global conversation .
Deepti’s record-breaking wicket was not a moment built on drama or theatrics, but on precision. A delivery that held its line, struck Silva in front of the stumps and reflected everything that has defined her career — control, intelligence and relentless consistency. It was her 152nd T20I wicket, achieved in her 133rd match, a testament to longevity and sustained excellence in the shortest format of the game.
What sets Deepti apart from many contemporaries is the nature of her dominance. She has never relied on raw pace or extravagant turn. Instead, her success has been shaped by accuracy, subtle variations in flight and pace, and an ability to read batters with remarkable clarity. In a format increasingly tilted towards power-hitting, Deepti has thrived by forcing mistakes rather than inviting them.
The record came at the end of a year that can only be described as transformative for Indian women’s cricket. Earlier in 2025, India lifted their maiden ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, a breakthrough moment after decades of near-misses. Deepti was central to that triumph, delivering one of the finest all-round performances ever seen at a global tournament. She finished the World Cup as the leading wicket-taker and also crossed 200 runs, becoming the first player in World Cup history across men’s and women’s cricket to achieve the 200-run, 20-wicket double in a single edition.
The final against South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium was Deepti at her commanding best. After contributing a crucial half-century with the bat, she dismantled South Africa’s chase with a five-wicket haul, sealing a historic title for India. It was a performance that captured her essence: impact in decisive moments, across disciplines, under the brightest lights.
Her T20I milestone against Sri Lanka was equally symbolic. Earlier in the same series, Deepti became the first cricketer in international history to combine 1,000 runs and 150 wickets in T20Is. That statistic alone places her in a unique category, highlighting a level of versatility rarely seen in modern cricket. While many all-rounders contribute in phases, Deepti has remained relevant across roles opening the batting when required, anchoring the middle order, bowling in the powerplay, controlling the middle overs and closing out games under pressure.
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Across formats, her influence has been just as significant. Deepti has now collected over 330 international wickets, making her one of India’s most prolific bowlers across Tests, ODIs and T20Is. In the 50-over format, she sits just behind Jhulan Goswami among India’s all-time wicket-takers, a remarkable achievement for a player who began her international career as a teenager in 2014.
What makes her journey even more compelling is the evolution of her role within the team. Early in her career, Deepti was often viewed primarily as a containing bowler. By 2025, she had transformed into a complete match-shaper. Captains now turn to her not only to stem the flow of runs, but to break partnerships, absorb pressure and tilt games back in India’s favour. Her economy rate in T20Is remains among the best in the world, particularly impressive given how frequently she bowls in high-risk phases.
Deepti’s rise has also mirrored the broader growth of women’s cricket in India. The advent of the Women’s Premier League has added another layer to her development, providing year-round competition, financial stability and exposure to elite tactical environments. Her value was reflected in the most recent WPL auction, where she commanded one of the highest bids, reinforcing her status as one of the most complete players in the game.
As India look ahead to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2026, Deepti Sharma stands as a pillar of the team’s ambitions. At just 28, she is already closing in on India’s all-time international wicket record, and with T20 cricket set to feature at the 2028 Olympics, her influence is only set to grow.
The record in Thiruvananthapuram was not an endpoint. It was a marker of how far Deepti Sharma and Indian women’s cricket have travelled. In a year defined by global triumphs and historic milestones, she has emerged not just as a record-holder, but as the standard-bearer of a new era.
