Cricket
-Gaurav Sharma
Deepti Sharma led India to a 64-run win over Pakistan in their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup opener. The match was played at Edgbaston on Sunday. India scored 170/6 before bowling Pakistan out for 106 in 17 overs.
The 28-year-old off-spinner delivered her best T20I spell, taking 5/10 in four overs. Those figures are now the best by an Indian woman in T20 World Cup history. She also became the leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20 Internationals.
India defeated Pakistan by 64 runs in their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup opener in Edgbaston, where Deepti Sharma took 5/10, setting a new T20 World Cup record for an Indian woman and becoming the leading T20I wicket-taker.
Deepti Sharma sets new Women’s T20I record
Deepti Sharma now has 166 wickets from 145 T20Is. She moved past Thailand spinner Thipatcha Putthawong, who had 165 wickets. Deepti also became the third Indian bowler with a five-wicket haul in a Women’s T20 World Cup.
| Wickets | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 166 | Deepti Sharma | India |
| 165 | Thipatcha Putthawong | Thailand |
| 160 | Henriette Ishimwe | Rwanda |
| 152 | Megan Schutt | Australia |
| 148 | O Kamchomphu | Thailand |
Pakistan were chasing 171, but India’s spinners controlled the middle overs well. Muneeba Ali fought hard with 41 from 35 balls. However, the rest of the batting unit failed against turn and changing pace.
Deepti Sharma kept the ball on the stumps and changed speed often. The pitch helped slower bowlers as the innings went on. Pakistan’s middle and lower order could not find answers against her accuracy.
“I like these kinds of wickets. Because it’s turning, I varied my pace in every ball and every over, and that helped me a lot,” Deepti said after receiving the Player of the Match award.
“I just believed in myself and kept bowling in the right areas. I was never worried when I wasn’t getting wickets. I always believed that when the right time came, I would step up for the team,” she added.
Deepti Sharma joins elite Indian T20 World Cup list
Before Deepti Sharma, Priyanka Roy and Renuka Singh Thakur had taken five-wicket hauls for India. Priyanka took 5/16 against Pakistan in 2009. Renuka took 5/15 against England at Gqeberha in 2023.
| Figures | Player | Match | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/10 | Deepti Sharma | vs Pakistan | Birmingham | 2026 |
| 5/15 | Renuka Thakur | vs England | Gqeberha | 2023 |
| 5/16 | Priyanka Roy | vs Pakistan | Taunton | 2009 |
Shree Charani also played a key role with left-arm spin. She finished with 3/21 and kept pressure from the other end. Shafali Verma added one wicket as India completed a strong bowling display.
Earlier, India had slipped to 18/2 and needed a steady stand. Smriti Mandhana then scored 68 from 44 balls. She added 91 runs with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who made 36.
Richa Ghosh gave India the late push with 34 from only 17 balls. The wicketkeeper-batter attacked in the penultimate over, which produced 23 runs. That surge helped India reach a testing 170/6.
Deepti Sharma also credited the batting effort after India’s win. She said, “I especially want to mention Smriti and Harry Di’s partnership. From there, we got the momentum.”
India began their campaign with a clear win over their arch-rivals. Deepti Sharma’s record spell shaped the result, while Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh set up the total. Pakistan were dismissed for 106 in 17 overs.
