Stats - Deepti Sharma becomes leading wicket-taker in T20Is
Key numbers from Deepti's career as she becomes the first Indian to top the T20I wicket-takers' list
Namooh Shah
31-Dec-2025 • 4 hrs ago
Deepti Sharma now has 152 T20I wickets • BCCI
Deepti Sharma has become the leading wicket-taker in women's T20Is, going past Megan Schutt's tally of 151 when she dismissed Nilakshika Silva in the fifth T20I against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram. She now has 152 wickets in 133 T20Is at an average of 19.00 and an economy rate of 6.12.
The first Indian to the feat
Deepti is the first India bowler to top the all-time T20I wicket-takers' list. The closest an India bowler came was RP Singh in men's cricket in 2007, when he was joint-second with 13 wickets, behind Shahid Afridi. No Indian woman has topped the T20I run-scorers' list either, though Harmanpreet Kaur (in July 2024) and Smriti Mandhana (since December 2024) have both been second to Suzie Bates (4716) on the all-time charts.
Deepti is the first India bowler to top the all-time T20I wicket-takers' list. The closest an India bowler came was RP Singh in men's cricket in 2007, when he was joint-second with 13 wickets, behind Shahid Afridi. No Indian woman has topped the T20I run-scorers' list either, though Harmanpreet Kaur (in July 2024) and Smriti Mandhana (since December 2024) have both been second to Suzie Bates (4716) on the all-time charts.
A unique double of 150-plus wickets
In the third T20I against Sri Lanka, Deepti became the first woman to take 150-plus wickets in both ODIs and T20Is. She currently has 162 ODI wickets. Megan Schutt (145 in ODIs) and Sophie Ecclestone (141 in ODIs, 142 in T20Is) are the closest to achieving the same feat.
In the third T20I against Sri Lanka, Deepti became the first woman to take 150-plus wickets in both ODIs and T20Is. She currently has 162 ODI wickets. Megan Schutt (145 in ODIs) and Sophie Ecclestone (141 in ODIs, 142 in T20Is) are the closest to achieving the same feat.
Deepti is third on the list of most wickets in women's international cricket, with 334 wickets across three formats. She went past Ellyse Perry (331) in the third T20I, and is now behind only Jhulan Goswami (355 wickets) and Katherine Sciver-Brunt (335 wickets).
A proven match-winner
Beyond her wicket tally, Deepti has consistently shaped series outcomes. She has won three Player-of-the-Series awards in T20Is, the joint-most by an Indian --alongside Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet and Mithali Raj.
Beyond her wicket tally, Deepti has consistently shaped series outcomes. She has won three Player-of-the-Series awards in T20Is, the joint-most by an Indian --alongside Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet and Mithali Raj.
Consistency across the years
Among players from Full Member, only 12 women have taken 25 or more wickets in a single calendar year in T20Is. Deepti is the only one to achieve this twice, in 2022 and 2024. Among the seven women to take 50 or more international wickets in a calendar year, Deepti is the only one to do so in three different years - in 2022, 2024 and 2025.
Among players from Full Member, only 12 women have taken 25 or more wickets in a single calendar year in T20Is. Deepti is the only one to achieve this twice, in 2022 and 2024. Among the seven women to take 50 or more international wickets in a calendar year, Deepti is the only one to do so in three different years - in 2022, 2024 and 2025.
A match-up specialist like no other
Of the 31 bowlers to have dismissed a batter five or more times in T20Is, Deepti is the only one to do so against five different batters. She has dismissed Chamari Athapaththu and Danny Wyatt-Hodge six times each, and Tammy Beaumont, Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney five times apiece. The next closest is Anisa Mohammed, who has achieved this feat against three batters.
Of the 31 bowlers to have dismissed a batter five or more times in T20Is, Deepti is the only one to do so against five different batters. She has dismissed Chamari Athapaththu and Danny Wyatt-Hodge six times each, and Tammy Beaumont, Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney five times apiece. The next closest is Anisa Mohammed, who has achieved this feat against three batters.
Namooh Shah is a stats analyst at ESPNcricinfo