Deepti Sharma delivered one of the finest performances of her career to guide India to a commanding 64-run victory over Pakistan in their opening match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Edgbaston. The experienced all-rounder produced a breathtaking spell of 5 for 10 in four overs, helping bowl Pakistan out for 106 while also rewriting the record books by becoming the highest wicket-taker in Women’s T20 International history.
The memorable outing not only earned Deepti widespread praise but also marked a major milestone in her international career. Her exceptional display highlighted India’s all-round superiority as they kicked off their World Cup campaign in emphatic fashion.
Deepti Sharma shatters world record with dazzling bowling show against Pakistan
With her five-wicket haul against Pakistan, Deepti moved to 166 wickets in Women’s T20 Internationals from 145 appearances, surpassing Thailand spinner Thipatcha Putthawong’s tally of 165 wickets. The achievement places the Indian star at the summit of the global wicket-taking charts in the format.
Her performance was significant for another reason as well. Deepti became only the third Indian bowler to register a five-wicket haul in the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup, joining an exclusive list that includes Priyanka Roy and Renuka Singh Thakur. Delivering such a spell on one of cricket’s biggest stages further cemented her reputation as one of India’s most dependable match winners.
| Rank | Player | Team | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deepti Sharma | India (IND) | 166 |
| 2 | Thipatcha Putthawong | Thailand (THA) | 165 |
| 3 | Henriette Ishimwe | Rwanda (RWA) | 160 |
| 4 | Megan Schutt | Australia (AUS) | 152 |
| 5 | O Kamchomphu | Thailand (THA) | 148 |
Pakistan batters struggle against India’s spin attack
Pakistan entered the chase needing 171 for victory but found scoring increasingly difficult as India’s bowlers tightened the screws. Deepti exploited the conditions brilliantly, mixing her pace and maintaining relentless accuracy to dismantle the middle and lower order. While Muneeba Ali showed resistance with a determined 41 from 35 deliveries, the rest of the batting unit failed to build lasting partnerships. Deepti’s relentless pressure was complemented by disciplined bowling from the rest of the attack, ensuring Pakistan never gained momentum during the chase. By the 17th over, Pakistan’s innings had come to an end with India sealing an impressive 64-run triumph.
Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh provide the perfect platform
Earlier in the evening, India recovered strongly after losing early wickets thanks to a classy innings from Smriti Mandhana. The left-hander played fluently for her 68 off 44 balls, striking boundaries with confidence and anchoring the innings during a crucial phase. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur contributed a composed 36-run knock as the pair rebuilt after the early setbacks. Their partnership stabilized the innings before wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh injected fresh momentum with an explosive 34 from only 17 deliveries. Richa’s aggressive stroke play in the closing overs pushed India to 170 for 6, giving the bowlers a total they could confidently defend.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
