Deepti Sharma: A force to reckon with (Source: @ICC)
The year 2025 has indeed belonged to the ones who kept going, showcasing perseverance despite constant criticism and disappointments. The same has been the case with India's ace all-rounder Deepti Sharma.
Across formats, Deepti has put on memorable performances that were duly rewarded, including being named the Player of the Tournament at the home World Cup as India created history and went on to back it up with a 5-0 T20I series win against Sri Lanka. Moreover, her World Cup heroics earned Deepti the second-biggest price (3.2 crore INR) in Women's Premier League history.
By the end of the calendar year, Sharma also became the leading wicket-taker (152 wickets) in the history of women’s T20Is as India closed the year with a win in Thiruvananthapuram.
However, it is important to note that Deepti Sharma’s ascent to world dominance has been driven by her unwavering determination, which has underpinned her true identity in this ever-evolving, fast-paced modern-day cricket.
Deepti Sharma: The unsung hero of Indian women’s cricket
Take a look at the following stats:
- A spell of 5 for 39 in 9.3 overs and 58 runs off 58 balls with the bat in a World Cup final.
- A total of 22 wickets and 215 runs in the tournament.
- The first cricketer to score a fifty and pick five wickets in a World Cup knockout game.
- First and only to score 200+ runs and take 20+wiclets in a single World Cup edition.
- Only the second player to take a five-wicket haul in a Women’s World Cup final.
Note: All in one year, 2025!
No doubt, the above numbers look extraordinary. However, for someone from the narrow lanes of Agra, where she grew up as the youngest of seven siblings in a close-knit family, it shows her toil and persistence.
Without these numbers, Indian women may not have even become what they are today - the World Champions.
An invisible yet fully present force
It is quite evident that, despite being a top-ranked, world-class performer over the years, especially in 2025, Deepti Sharma has often been overlooked in favor of more heavily marketed, louder, or aggressive personalities in women's cricket.
It is due to her quiet, functional, and non-flashy approach rather than a lack of achievement. Notably, she has built her career on "quiet excellence". She is noted for her calm under pressure and for focusing on tactical execution rather than hype.
Despite breaking records, such as being the first player (male or female) to score 1,000 runs and take 150 wickets in T20Is, she has not achieved the same level of mainstream, viral stardom as some teammates.
“Impact matters more”: Deepti Sharma ends the year on high with optimism for 2026
In India women's last match of 2025, the all-rounder moved past Australia's Megan Schutt to become the leading wicket-taker in women's T20I history, as mentioned in the introduction. Talking about the the milestone, she displayed pride with a firm reminder of where her focus truly lies.
"I always feel good whenever you achieve such milestones," Deepti said after the match. "And being an Indian, I always feel proud. Whenever I get more opportunities, I always think about how I can deliver more impactful performances for the Indian team."
True to her nature, Deepti has never chased numbers, but a record-breaking wicket felt inevitable. It is indeed a result of years of consistency, intellect, and self-restraint. Instead of celebrating the achievement loudly, she let the moment pass, already looking forward.
Thus, in 2025, the records may have belonged to her, but her eyes remain strongly set on achieving much more in 2026.
