India’s star all-rounder Deepti Sharma has made history by becoming the highest wicket-taker in women’s international cricket. The talented cricketer from Agra hit this incredible milestone during India’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group A match against Australia at Lord’s. Deepti surpassed Jhulan Goswami’s long-standing record of 355 wickets when she dismissed Australian opener Beth Mooney with the very first ball of Australia’s 10th over in their chase. This match marked Deepti’s 279th appearance for the Women in Blue, and with that wicket, she now boasts a total of 356 international wickets, placing her at the pinnacle of the all-time list in women’s cricket.
This achievement adds yet another remarkable chapter to Deepti’s already impressive career. Earlier in the tournament, she showcased her skills by taking five wickets against Pakistan in India’s opening match in Birmingham. To date, she has accumulated 22 wickets from six Tests, 166 wickets in 124 ODIs, and 168 wickets in 149 T20Is. Following Deepti and Jhulan Goswami on the all-time list are Australia’s Ellyse Perry (336), England’s Katherine Sciver-Brunt (335), England’s Sophie Ecclestone (333), and South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail (323).
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Australia Spoils Deepti Sharma’s Historic Day With Six-Wicket Win
Despite a historic individual performance, the outcome was disappointing for India. Australia triumphed over India by six wickets at Lord’s, bringing an end to India’s journey in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. After winning the toss, India opted to bat first. The innings got off to a promising start, with Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma putting together a solid opening partnership, reaching 49 runs without losing a wicket by the seventh over. Harmanpreet Kaur then took charge, smashing a quickfire 56 off just 27 balls, while Mandhana contributed 38, Shafali added 34, and Jemimah Rodrigues chipped in with another 34. Harmanpreet’s explosive finish, which included six fours and three sixes, propelled India to a competitive total of 170/4, with 23 runs coming in the final over. Sophie Molineux was the standout bowler for Australia, claiming 2/46.
In response, Australia bounced back after losing Georgia Voll early in their innings. Ellyse Perry played a crucial role in the chase, scoring 56 off 38 balls, while Ashleigh Gardner made a swift 53 off 29. Phoebe Litchfield contributed 24 runs. Perry’s steady batting helped guide the innings, and she formed a match-winning century partnership with Gardner, keeping the chase well within reach. Unfortunately for India, dropped catches and a costly 17th over proved to be their downfall, as Australia clinched victory with one over to spare. Shree Charani was India’s most effective bowler, finishing with figures of 2/32. This defeat left India in third place in Group A, trailing behind Australia and South Africa, marking a second consecutive group-stage exit after losses to both teams. It also highlighted Australia’s continued dominance over India in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup knockout and qualification matches, following heartbreaks in the 2020 final and the 2023 semifinal.
