NEW DELHI: India’s premier all-rounder Deepti Sharma etched her name in the record books with a sensational five-wicket haul as India outclassed arch-rivals Pakistan by 64 runs in their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup opener at Edgbaston on Sunday.The 28-year-old off-spinner returned career-best figures of 5/10 in four overs — the best bowling figures by an Indian woman in T20 World Cup history — and became the highest wicket-taker in Women’s T20 Internationals.Deepti now has 166 wickets from 145 T20Is, overtaking Thailand spinner Thipatcha Putthawong, who had held the previous record with 165 wickets. Deepti’s five-for also made her only the third Indian bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in a Women’s T20 World Cup after Priyanka Roy (5/16 against Pakistan in 2009) and Renuka Singh Thakur (5/15 against England in 2023).
Most wickets in Women’s T20Is
- 166 – Deepti Sharma (IND)*
- 165 – Thipatcha Putthawong (THA)
- 160 – Henriette Ishimwe (RWA)
- 152 – Megan Schutt (AUS)
- 148 – O Kamchomphu (THA)
Deepti’s spin web leaves Pakistan helpless
Chasing 171, Pakistan had no answers to India’s disciplined spin attack. Apart from Muneeba Ali‘s fighting 41 off 35 balls, the batting line-up struggled to cope with the turn and variable pace on offer.Deepti was virtually unplayable on a surface that increasingly assisted the slower bowlers. She varied her pace brilliantly and kept attacking the stumps, removing Pakistan’s middle and lower order to finish with outstanding figures of 5/10.“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.Left-arm spinner Shree Charani complemented Deepti superbly with figures of 3/21, while Shafali Verma chipped in with a wicket.Five-wicket hauls for IND-W in T20 WCs
- 5/10 – Deepti Shamra vs PAK, Birmingham, 2026*
- 5/15 – Renuka Thakur vs ENG, Gqeberha, 2023
- 5/16 – Priyanka Roy vs PAK, Taunton, 2009
Mandhana, Richa power India to winning total
Earlier, Smriti Mandhana‘s elegant 68 off 44 balls laid the platform for India after they had slipped to 18/2. The vice-captain added 91 runs with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (36) to steady the innings before Richa Ghosh provided the late flourish with a blazing 34 off just 17 deliveries.The wicketkeeper-batter’s assault in the penultimate over yielded 23 runs and helped India post a challenging 170/6.Deepti also praised the contributions of the batters, saying: “I especially want to mention Smriti and Harry Di’s partnership. From there, we got the momentum.”India eventually bundled Pakistan out for 106 in 17 overs to begin their campaign in emphatic fashion.
