Deepti Sharma gave India a rare note of authority on a bruising Lord’s night by moving to the top of women’s international cricket’s all-time wicket list.
The India off-spinner reached 356 international wickets during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup defeat to Australia, passing former India great Jhulan Goswami’s mark of 355. The record wicket came when Beth Mooney miscued to Radha Yadav at long-on, a dismissal that briefly pulled Australia back to 68 for three in their chase.
ATOP THE SUMMIT! Deepti Sharma scales another historic milestone to become the leading wicket-taker in women’s international cricket.
— ICC (@ICC) June 28, 2026
A record inside a painful exit
India still lost control of the contest. Australia completed the chase by six wickets, with Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner breaking India’s semi-final hopes through a decisive middle-overs stand.
Yet Deepti’s landmark deserves to stand apart from the result. She has built the record through relentless cross-format value: control in the powerplay, heavy defensive overs through the middle, and enough batting depth to keep her place secure even when India have reshaped their balance.
It also places her beyond Goswami, the benchmark figure for Indian seam bowling, and strengthens a wider shift in the country’s women’s game. Deepti’s long-format batting record with Punam Raut already showed her range; this milestone confirms the bowling legacy.
For Harmanpreet Kaur’s side, the tournament ends with hard selection questions. For Deepti, it ends with a record that will frame every conversation about India’s next cycle.
