Deepti Sharma rewrites Women’s T20I records, leads all-time wicket-taking list

Soumyajit Dutta

Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone and Megan Schutt [Source: @abhishEK_sawant/X]Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone and Megan Schutt [Source: @abhishEK_sawant/X]

Women’s T20I cricket has witnessed a remarkable boost in bowling excellence in the recent times. From experienced campaigners to young stars rewriting records, wicket-taking has remained central to success in T20Is.

As Deepti Sharma carved her name in one of the most successful tally of Women’s cricket after her heroics with the ball against Sri Lanka, let’s take a look at some of the cricketers who have the most wickets in Women’s T20Is.

3) Sophie Ecclestone – 142 wickets

Sophie Ecclestone has been one of the most dominant bowlers in women’s T20I history and in 101 Women’s T20Is, the left-arm spinner has taken 142 wickets at an outstanding average of 15.73 and an economy rate of 5.96, underlining her ability to choke runs while striking regularly.

Her best figures of 4/18 highlight her match-winning impact as she burst onto the international scene as a teenager and quickly rose to become the world’s No. 1-ranked T20I bowler at just 20.

2) Nida Dar and Henriette Ishimwe – 144 wickets

Nida Dar has been a pillar of Pakistan’s women’s team and one of the most durable performers in Women’s T20I history. Across 160 T20Is, she has claimed 144 wickets from 160 matches at an average of 20.20 and an economy rate of 5.70. Notably, Dar made history as the first Pakistan player, male or female, to reach 100 T20I wickets, and she remains the country’s most-capped T20I cricketer.

Joining Nida dar is Henriette Ishimwe who emerged as one of the most remarkable fast-bowling talents in Women’s T20I cricket, rewriting records for Rwanda at a young age. In 117 Women’s T20Is, she has taken 144 wickets from 117 matches at a phenomenal average of 10.33 and an economy rate of 4.31. Notably, Ishimwe gained global attention after taking four wickets in four balls against Zimbabwe in 2023 and has the most WT20I wickets at a single venue.

1) Megan Schutt and Deepti Sharma – 151 wickets

Megan Schutt has been one of Australia’s most reliable strike bowlers and from 123 Women’s T20Is, Schutt has picked up 151 wickets from 123 matches, averaging 17.70 with an economy rate of 6.40. Among her accomplishments, she finished as the leading wicket-taker at the 2013 Women’s World Cup and repeated the feat at the 2020 T20 World Cup, where she took 13 wickets, including four in the final against India.

Deepti Sharma sits at the summit of Women’s T20I wicket-takers with Megan, as one of India’s most complete all-rounders. In 131 Women’s T20Is, she has picked up 151 wickets from 128 innings at an average of 18.73, while maintaining a tidy economy rate of 6.09. In the ongoing Sri Lanka women’s tour of India, Deepti Sharma picked up three wickets alongside Renuka Singh Thakur’s four-fer, helping restrict Sri Lanka to a modest 112 runs.