Deepti Sharma became the first Indian – in both men’s and women’s cricket – to reach the 150-wicket mark in T20 Internationals. (PTI photo) NEW DELHI: India’s leading all-rounder Deepti Sharma produced a record-breaking performance during the third T20 International against Sri Lanka, surpassing Australian great Ellyse Perry to become the third highest wicket-taker in women’s international cricket.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Deepti returned figures of 3 for 18 in Thiruvananthapuram, a spell that took her tally to 333 international wickets, moving ahead of Perry, who finished his career with 331 wickets from 271 matches. Only England’s Katherine Sciver-Brunt (335 wickets in 275 matches) and Indian legend Jhulan Goswami (355 wickets in 291 matches) now sit above Deepti on the all-time list.
Gautam Gambhir’s year as India coach ends as it began – on a chaotic note
The show also saw Deepti create history in the shortest format. She became the first Indian woman – in both men’s and women’s cricket – to reach the 150-wicket mark in T20 Internationals. In the process, she drew level with Australia’s Megan Schutt as the leading wicket-taker in women’s T20Is with 151 wickets in 131 matches at an impressive average of 18.73. Her best figures in the format remain 4 for 10.In one-day internationals, Deepti continues to climb the charts. She is currently the eighth highest wicket taker in women’s ODIs and the second most successful Indian bowler in the format after Jhulan Goswami with 162 wickets from 121 matches at an average of 27.32. Her ODI record includes a career-best 6 for 20, along with three four-wicket hauls and four fives. In Test cricket, she took 20 wickets in five matches at an average of 18.10, with both four-for and five-for to her name.Adding another milestone to an already glittering list, Deepti became the first cricketer in the history of the game – male and female – to reach 1,000 runs and take 150 wickets in T20 Internationals. In addition to her 151 wickets, she amassed 1,100 runs in 131 matches at an average of 23.40 and a strike rate of 104.26, including two half-centuries.In the match itself, India won the toss and opted to bowl. Sri Lanka managed 112 for 7 from their 20 overs, with Imesha Dulani (27), Hasini Perera (25) and Kavisha Dilhari (20) the only batsmen to cross the 20-run mark. Renuka Singh played with the ball and took 4 for 21.India’s chase was concluded in emphatic fashion, led by Shafali Verma’s unbeaten 79 off 42 balls. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur added 21 as India cruised to an eight-wicket victory in just 13.2 overs. Shafali registered her second consecutive half-century and continued her brilliant run in 2025 where she scored 333 runs in eight T20Is at an average of 55.50 and a strike rate in excess of 173.
