Deepti Sharma's Record-Breaking Performance Highlights India's T20 Dominance

Deepti Sharma's recent performance in the third T20 International against Sri Lanka showcased not only her individual talent but also its increasing importance to India's overall cricketing strategy. Sharma's achievement of becoming the first Indian cricketer, across both men's and women's formats, to reach 150 wickets in T20Is, and surpassing Ellyse Perry to become the third-highest wicket-taker in women’s international cricket, provides a context for understanding her impact on the team’s dynamics.

Sharma's figures of 3 for 18 in Thiruvananthapuram elevated her to 333 international wickets, surpassing Perry's 331. Only Katherine Sciver-Brunt (335) and Jhulan Goswami (355) are ahead of her. This milestone underscores her consistency and effectiveness across formats. In T20Is, Sharma's 151 wickets put her on par with Australia’s Megan Schutt as the leading wicket-taker in women’s T20Is, achieved in 131 matches at an average of 18.73. Her best figures remain 4 for 10.

In ODIs, Sharma is India’s second-most successful bowler with 162 wickets from 121 matches at an average of 27.32, only behind Jhulan Goswami. Her career-best is 6 for 20, including multiple four and five-wicket hauls. In Test cricket, she holds 20 wickets in five matches at an average of 18.10.

Sharma also became the first cricketer to score 1,000 runs and take 150 wickets in T20Is. She has amassed 1,100 runs in 131 matches at an average of 23.40 and a strike rate of 104.26, including two half-centuries.

In the match, Sri Lanka scored 112 for 7 in their 20 overs, with Imesha Dulani (27), Hasini Perera (25) and Kavisha Dilhari (20) being the only batters to cross the 20-run mark. Renuka Singh picked up 4 for 21. India chased the score, led by Shafali Verma’s 79 off 42 balls and Harmanpreet Kaur’s 21, securing an eight-wicket win in 13.2 overs. Shafali registered her second consecutive half-century and continued her fine run in 2025, scoring 333 runs in eight T20Is at an average of 55.50 and a strike rate exceeding 173.

Deepti Sharma's all-round capabilities provide India with flexibility in team composition, allowing for tactical adjustments based on match conditions and opponent strategies. Her contributions are vital for India's competitiveness in major tournaments.

Editor’s note: This article was independently written by the Scoopliner Editorial Team using publicly available information.