With a brilliant spell of 3/18, Deepti equalled Australia pacer Megan Schutt’s record of 151 wickets. (Photo: X/@CricCrazyJohns)
India’s star all-rounder Deepti Sharma scripted history during the third T20I against Sri Lanka at the Greenfield International Stadium on Friday, becoming the joint-highest wicket-taker in Women’s T20 Internationals.
With a brilliant spell of 3/18, Deepti equalled Australia pacer Megan Schutt’s record of 151 wickets, while also becoming the first Indian cricketer male or female to reach 150 T20I wickets.
Deepti reached the landmark during her four-over spell, dismissing Chamari Athapaththu, Kavisha Dilhari and Malsha Shehani. Her final wicket Malsha Shehani took her past the 150-wicket mark, a feat no Indian cricketer has achieved in T20Is.
She reached the milestone in 131 matches, maintaining an impressive bowling average of 18.73 and an economy rate of 6.09.
In another remarkable achievement, Deepti also became the first cricketer globally across men’s and women’s cricket to complete a double of 150 wickets and 1000 runs in T20 Internationals.
She had already crossed the 1000-run mark before the Sri Lanka series, underlining her status as one of the finest all-rounders in the shortest format.
With her three-wicket haul, Deepti drew level with Megan Schutt (151 wickets) as the joint-highest wicket-taker in Women’s T20Is. While Schutt achieved the feat in 123 matches, Deepti reached it in 131 games both boasting elite consistency at the top level.
Despite men’s T20Is beginning in 2007, no male cricketer has managed 150 wickets and 1000 runs in the format. Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan, the leading wicket-taker in men’s T20Is with 182 wickets, has scored only 602 runs.
Other bowlers with 150+ wickets Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi and Mustafizur Rahman fall well short of the batting milestone, highlighting the rarity of Deepti’s achievement.
Earlier, India opted to bowl after winning the toss. Sri Lanka were restricted to 112/7, with Hasini Perera (25 off 18) and Kavisha Dilhari (20 off 13) offering brief resistance.
Renuka Singh starred with the ball, claiming 4 wickets for 21 runs, while Deepti’s economical spell tightened India’s grip on the match.
Chasing 113 runs, India looked to seal the match and potentially clinch the five-match T20I series, having already taken a 2-0 lead.
With her historic performance, Deepti Sharma once again proved why she remains a cornerstone of India’s white-ball success.
ALSO READ: Vijay Hazare Trophy: Vidarbha’s Dhruv Shorey Equals Record With Fifth Straight Century
Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
The Stranger Things finale, with its mix of 1980’s pleasant memories, mysterious wonders, and character…
The Nigerian government has given its public backing to the act of coordination, with Foreign…
Chandni Chowk Fire: Blaze Erupts Near Bank of Baroda, Fire Tenders Rush To Spot
Among the ancient bazaars and huge numbers of people, Chandni Chowk has experienced, in the…
