Records in cricket often define eras, and on a memorable evening at Lord’s, Deepti Sharma added her name to one of Indian cricket’s most prestigious milestones. The all-rounder surpassed the legendary Jhulan Goswami to become India’s leading wicket-taker in international cricket, claiming her 356th wicket during India’s ICC T20 World Cup clash against Australia.
At just 28 years of age, Deepti reached the landmark in only 278 innings, overtaking Jhulan’s tally of 355 wickets that came across 291 innings, highlighting the remarkable consistency she has displayed across all three formats over the last decade.
Although India’s campaign ended with a six-wicket defeat to Australia and an early exit from the tournament, Deepti’s historic achievement stood out as one of the defining moments of the competition. The dismissal of Australia’s Beth Mooney in the tenth over not only revived India’s hopes in the contest but also marked the wicket that elevated Deepti to the top of India’s all-time international bowling charts.
The milestone serves as another chapter in a career built on discipline, adaptability and unwavering consistency. Since making her international debut in 2014, Deepti has developed into one of India’s most dependable all-rounders, contributing with both bat and ball across Tests, One Day Internationals and T20 Internationals.
India entered the must-win encounter at Lord’s needing victory to secure a place in the semi-finals. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur elected to bat first, and the innings was built around steady contributions before exploding into life during the closing overs. Smriti Mandhana anchored the innings with a composed 38 from 37 deliveries, while Shafali Verma’s attacking 34 off 26 ensured India maintained momentum during the powerplay.
Jemimah Rodrigues added a valuable 34 before being retired out in the 19th over as India looked to maximise the final two overs with the arrival of Richa Ghosh. Harmanpreet then produced one of the finest knocks of the tournament. The skipper smashed an unbeaten sequence of three consecutive sixes in the final over as she raced to 56 from only 27 deliveries. Her innings lifted India to 170 for 4, the highest total the side has ever posted against Australia in a T20 World Cup.
Deepti had little opportunity with the bat, scoring a boundary from the final delivery she faced, but her primary impact came with the ball. Bowling her full quota, Deepti returned figures of 4 for 31 from four overs while maintaining pressure through the middle phase of Australia’s chase. Her breakthrough came when Beth Mooney attempted to accelerate but was dismissed for 22, handing Deepti the record-breaking wicket.
The celebrations, however, were short-lived. Australia recovered through the experienced partnership of Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner, whose unbeaten stand steered the defending champions to victory with an over remaining. Perry scored a composed 56 while Gardner’s unbeaten 53 from just 29 deliveries ensured Australia successfully chased 171 and secured top spot in Group A.
The result also confirmed South Africa’s qualification for the semi-finals while ending India’s campaign. Despite the disappointment, Deepti’s overall tournament once again demonstrated her value as one of India’s premier all-round performers.
Across five matches, she scored 60 runs at a strike rate exceeding 170 while also collecting seven wickets at an average of 19.14 and an economy rate of just over seven runs per over. Her ability to contribute in multiple roles has become one of India’s biggest strengths in recent years.
The tournament also witnessed one of the finest bowling performances of her career. Against Pakistan at Edgbaston earlier in the competition, Deepti registered extraordinary figures of 5 for 10, including three wickets in her final over, to produce the best bowling figures by an Indian player in T20 World Cup history. The performance eclipsed Renuka Singh’s previous record of 5 for 15 and earned Deepti the Player of the Match award while underlining her reputation as a bowler capable of deciding major contests.
Her achievements in the shortest format extend well beyond this tournament. Since making her T20I debut against Australia in Sydney in January 2016, Deepti has established herself as one of the format’s most successful bowlers. She has claimed 168 wickets in 149 matches at an impressive average below 20 while maintaining an economy rate of 6.35. Those numbers place her among the leading wicket-takers in the history of T20 International cricket and underline the longevity of her success. Much of Deepti’s climb to the top of India’s all-time wicket-taking list has also been built on an outstanding ODI career.
Making her debut in the format against South Africa in Bengaluru in 2014, she has developed into the backbone of India’s spin attack. Across 123 innings, Deepti has taken 166 wickets at an average of 27.69 while conceding only 4.45 runs per over. Her record includes multiple four-wicket, five-wicket and six-wicket hauls, reflecting both consistency and match-winning ability.
Among her finest performances remains the spell of 6 for 20 against Sri Lanka in Ranchi in February 2016, where she dismantled the batting line-up to guide India to a comfortable victory and earn the Player of the Match award. Her success has continued in Test cricket as well.
Since debuting against England in Bristol in 2021, Deepti has taken 22 wickets in nine innings at an outstanding average of 19.50 while maintaining an economy rate of only 2.37. Her career-best match figures of 9 for 39 against England at Navi Mumbai in December 2023 showcased her ability to dominate in the longest format, earning another Player of the Match honour.
Surpassing Jhulan Goswami carries enormous significance in Indian cricket. Goswami inspired an entire generation with her pace, resilience and longevity, while Deepti has crafted her own legacy through intelligent off-spin, remarkable control and exceptional versatility as an all-rounder. Their journeys represent two distinct eras of Indian cricket, united by sustained excellence and an unwavering commitment to the national team.
At only 28, Deepti Sharma’s record-breaking achievement may simply be another milestone in a career that continues to flourish. With multiple ICC tournaments still ahead and plenty of cricket left in her career, India’s newest record holder appears well positioned to extend her lead and add even more remarkable chapters to an already extraordinary legacy.
