When Pakistan were cruising at 52/1 after six overs in Birmingham on Sunday, chasing 171, things looked like they could get interesting. But then Deepti Sharma walked in to bowl, and within a matter of overs, the match was completely over. She picked up five wickets for just 10 runs, and Pakistan folded for 106. India won by 64 runs, and Deepti walked away with the best bowling figures ever recorded by an Indian in Women’s T20 World Cup history.
It was one of those performances that you just don’t forget.
The Spell That Changed Everything
Pakistan had started their chase on a high. Openers were hitting the ball cleanly, and the required run rate was well under control. At 52/1 in the powerplay, they had every reason to feel good about their chances. But cricket can turn very quickly, and it did, the moment Deepti came on to bowl.
In her very first over, she got a wicket. That single moment broke Pakistan’s confidence, and the collapse began. From 52/1, Pakistan lost nine wickets for just 54 runs. They went from being in a strong position to being all out for 106. Deepti finished with figures of 5/10, five wickets, just 10 runs conceded.
The five wickets she picked up were of Gull Feroza, Ayesha Zafar, Aliya Riaz, Nashra Sandhu, and Tasmia Rubab. Each wicket came at the right moment, and each one tightened the grip India had on the match. It was a controlled, disciplined, and brilliant bowling performance.
Best Bowling Figures in Women’s T20 World Cup History
To understand just how good Deepti’s spell was, here is a look at the best bowling figures in Women’s T20 World Cup history:
- Deandra Dottin (West Indies) – 5/5 in 3.4 overs vs England, 2018
- Sune Luus (South Africa) – 5/8 vs Ireland, 2016
- Deepti Sharma (India) – 5/10 vs Pakistan, 2026
- Ashleigh Gardner (Australia) – 5/12 in 3 overs vs New Zealand, 2023
- Renuka Singh Thakur (India) – 5/15 vs England, 2023
Deepti’s figures of 5/10 put her third on this all-time list, and more importantly, they are the best ever figures by an Indian bowler in the Women’s T20 World Cup. She went past Renuka Singh Thakur’s 5/15 from the 2023 edition against England, and she did it in a high-pressure game against India’s biggest rival in the region.
That is a record that may stand for a very long time.
Deepti Sharma Crosses 350 International Wickets
As if the five-wicket haul wasn’t enough, this performance also pushed Deepti Sharma past a massive personal milestone. She became only the second cricketer in women’s international cricket history to take more than 350 wickets across all formats.
The only other player to have done this is the legendary Jhulan Goswami. Right now, the list looks like this:
- Jhulan Goswami (India) – 355 wickets
- Deepti Sharma (India) – 354 wickets
- Katherine Sciver-Brunt (England) – 335 wickets
- Ellyse Perry (Australia) – 332 wickets
- Sophie Ecclestone (England) – 327 wickets
- Shabnim Ismail (South Africa) – 318 wickets
Deepti, at just 28 years old, is now just one wicket behind Jhulan Goswami. And considering that Goswami retired from international cricket, it is only a matter of time before Deepti becomes the all-time leading wicket-taker in women’s international cricket.
To be clear about what this number really means, Deepti has taken wickets in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is across her entire international career. Every single one of those 354 wickets has been hard-earned, against top international sides, across different conditions and formats. Being second on that list, behind only one of the greatest fast bowlers the game has ever seen, says a great deal about what Deepti has built over the years.
This is Her Second T20I Fifer, And Her Best Ever
Sunday’s spell was Deepti’s second five-wicket haul in T20 Internationals. But more than just being her second fifer, it is also her best bowling performance in any T20I she has played till date. Her previous five-wicket haul was impressive, but 5/10 in a World Cup knockout stage game against Pakistan? That is something else entirely.
Not many bowlers in the world, men’s or women’s cricket, can say they have taken a five-wicket haul at this level of the game. Deepti has now done it twice in T20Is alone, and has done so when her team needed it the most.
This also cements her place as India’s number one bowler in the shortest format of the game. There is a reason why she is the first name on the team sheet when it comes to bowling options. She brings control, she brings variation, and when the conditions are right, she brings wickets in big bundles.
How India Set Up the Game With the Bat
Before Deepti’s magic with the ball, India had to do the hard work with the bat. And it was not easy. India were reduced to 18/2 early in their innings, which meant they were under pressure right from the start. Two quick wickets can put any batting lineup in trouble, but India steadied the ship.
Smriti Mandhana was the anchor of the innings. She played a wonderful knock of 68 runs off just 44 balls, a knock that had plenty of boundaries and kept the scoreboard moving despite the early setbacks. Mandhana held the innings together from one end, making sure India did not lose more wickets in a hurry while also keeping the run rate at a good level.
Then, in the second half of the innings, Richa Ghosh came in and changed the pace completely. She played a quick cameo of 34 runs from just 17 balls. That kind of acceleration at the end of an innings is exactly what a team needs to push the total beyond what the opposition expected. Thanks to Mandhana’s solid foundation and Ghosh’s quickfire finish, India posted 170/6 in their 20 overs, a very competitive total on this ground.
Deepti Came In When Pakistan Were Going Strong
One of the things that makes Deepti’s spell even more remarkable is the situation she walked into. Pakistan were not struggling when she started bowling. They were 52/1 after the powerplay, had a good run rate going, and their batters were looking comfortable.
Bowling in that situation, especially in a World Cup game, requires a calm head. You cannot afford to give away easy runs, and you need to pick up wickets to stop the momentum. Deepti did exactly that. She did not let the strong start Pakistan had put together affect her approach. She bowled her natural game, and she got her rewards.
The wicket of Gull Feroza started the rot. From there, it was a complete breakdown of Pakistan’s batting lineup. Ayesha Zafar, Aliya Riaz, Nashra Sandhu, and Tasmia Rubab all fell to Deepti in quick succession. Pakistan went from 52/1 to being bowled out for 106, a complete collapse of 9 wickets for 54 runs. That is a crushing fall, and Deepti was the main reason for it.
Why Deepti Sharma Is in a Different League
There are good bowlers, there are great bowlers, and then there are bowlers who shape the outcome of matches all by themselves. Deepti has moved firmly into that last category.
At 28, she has already taken 354 international wickets across three formats. She has the best bowling figures by an Indian in Women’s T20 World Cup history. She has two T20I fifers to her name, both of them against top-quality opposition. She is within touching distance of becoming the all-time leading wicket-taker in women’s international cricket.
Her off-spin is hard to get away. She flattens the trajectory, bowls on the stumps consistently, and uses the crease well to create angles that batters find difficult to deal with. Her pace through the air is not slow enough to easily hit over the top, and not fast enough to cut or pull comfortably. She lives in that uncomfortable in-between zone that troubles even the best batters in the world.
Also, it is worth pointing out that Deepti is not just a white-ball specialist. She has taken wickets in Tests and ODIs as well, which is why her overall tally of 354 across formats is so impressive. She turns up in every format and makes a contribution.
India Dominate Pakistan, Again
India have a strong record against Pakistan in ICC tournaments, and Sunday’s match added to that history. After a brilliant batting display powered by Mandhana’s 68 and Ghosh’s 34, India defended 170 with ease. Deepti’s 5/10 sealed the game, and Pakistan were bundled out 64 runs short of the target.
It was a complete team performance from India, but the star of the show was undoubtedly Deepti Sharma. She stood up when the game needed someone to take control, and she delivered in the most complete way possible.
The post Deepti Sharma Becomes India’s Greatest Bowler in Women’s T20 World Cup History appeared first on Sportzcraazy.
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