Deepti Sharma in action against Pakistan Women [Source: AFP]Deepti Sharma bulldozed Pakistan Women in India’s opening match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. The legendary all-rounder scored crucial runs with the bat, pulled off a sensational run out, and picked up five wickets in her tight four-over spell at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Sunday, June 14.Through the course of her match-winning spell, the 28-year-old also secured a huge world record, going past a Thailand cricketer in an elite T20I list. Deepti Sharma becomes world’s most successful T20I bowlerDeepti Sharma skittled the Pakistani batting line-up in Birmingham on Sunday, June 14 to orchestrate India’s emphatic 64-run win in their Group 1 match of the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. The right-arm off-spinner started off her spell with the wicket of Pakistan opener Gull Feroza inside the powerplay overs. Deepti also trapped number three Ayesha Zafar in her following over, before mopping up the Pakistani tail by snaring final three wickets in the space of just five deliveries to claim sensational figures of 5-10. Also Read- Pakistan Head Coach Accepts Defeat Vs India Even Before Chase; Throws Fielders Under The BusThrough the course of her spell, the Indian all-rounder also became the leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20I history, going past left-arm Thailand spinner Thipatcha Putthawong. Here is a look at five of the world’s leading wicket-takers in Women’s T20I matches.Most Wickets in WT20Is:166 wickets – Deepti Sharma (India)*165 wickets – Thipatcha Putthawong (Thailand)160 wickets – Henriette Ishimwe (Rwanda)152 wickets – Megan Schutt (Australia)148 wickets – Onnicha Kamchomphu (Thailand)Deepti Sharma snares a slew of records after Pakistan spellApart from becoming the world’s leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20Is, Deepti extended her overall international tally to 354 wickets, thus becoming the second highest wicket-taker in the world across all forms of the women’s game. Most International Wickets in Women’s Cricket:355 - Jhulan Goswami (India)354* - Deepti Sharma (India)335 - Katherine Sciver-Brunt (England)332 - Ellyse Perry (Australia)327 - Sophie Ecclestone (England)The cricketer additionally scalped the best-ever bowling figures by an Indian bowler in a women’s T20I game. She surpassed legendary pacer Jhulan Goswami, who previously claimed 5-11 against Australia a decade ago. Best Bowling Figures for India in WT20Is:5/10 – Deepti Sharma vs Pakistan, Birmingham, 2026, Today*5/11 – Jhulan Goswami vs Australia, Visakhapatnam, 20125/15 – Renuka Singh vs England, Gqeberha, 20235/16 – Priyanka Roy vs Pakistan, Taunton, 20095/19 – Deepti Sharma vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2026The 28-year-old also scripted India’s best bowling figures in a Women’s T20 World Cup game, and the third best among any bowler in tournament’s history. Best Bowling Figures in Women’s T20 WCs:5/5 – Deandra Dottin (West Indies) vs Bangladesh, Providence, 20185/8 – Sune Luus (South Africa) vs Ireland, Chennai, 20165/10 – Deepti Sharma (India) vs Pakistan, Birmingham, 2026, Today*5/12 – Ashleigh Gardner (Australia) vs New Zealand, Paarl, 20235/15 – Renuka Singh (India) vs England, Gqeberha, 2023Additionally, the senior all-rounder picked up the second-best bowling figures for any bowler in a T20I game against Pakistan Women, falling just behind Bangladesh’s Nahida Akter. Here is a look at five best bowling figures against Pakistan in Women’s T20I matches. Best Bowling Figures vs Pakistan in WT20Is:5/8 – Nahida Akter (Bangladesh), Chattogram, 20235/10 – Deepti Sharma (India), Birmingham, 2026, Today*5/12 – Shabnim Ismail (South Africa), Durban, 20215/15 – Megan Schutt (Australia), North Sydney, 20235/16 – Priyanka Roy (India), Taunton, 2009With her match-winning spell, the ODI world champion has now recorded her own magnum opus performance in T20I cricket, surpassing her five-fer against South Africa from earlier this year. Best Bowling Figures for Deepti Sharma in WT20Is:5/10 vs Pakistan Women, Birmingham, 2026, Today*5/19 vs South Africa Women, Johannesburg, 20264/10 vs West Indies Women, Gros Islet, 2019India blank Pakistan Women by 64 runsIndia Women pulverized Pakistan by 64 runs to get off to a winning start in the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England. Batting first, the ‘Women in Blue’ mounted 170-6 from 20 overs courtesy of a thunderous 44-ball 68 from Smriti Mandhana and a slog overs 17-ball 34-run fury from Richa Ghosh. In response, Deepti Sharma picked up five wickets at an expense of just 10 runs, and fellow spinner Shree Charani scalped 3-21 as India folded up Pakistan for just 106 in 17 overs. India will now take on the Netherlands in match number 10 of the tournament in Leeds on June 17.Also Read- Dambulla Stadium Pitch Report, Weather Report For IND-A Vs SL-A, Tri-Nation A Series 2026, Match 4
