Daijiworld Media Network - Colombo
Colombo, Aug 31: Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma etched her name in the record books as her impressive bowling performance helped India begin their ACC Women’s Asia Cup 2026 campaign with a commanding 94-run victory over Thailand on Sunday.
Deepti became the leading wicket-taker in women's T20I cricket after claiming three wickets in the match. She moved to 171 wickets in the format, surpassing Thailand's Thipatcha Putthawong, who had 170 wickets. The achievement came in Deepti's 150th appearance for India, making the milestone even more significant.
Her record-breaking performance comes just months after another memorable spell at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in England, where she claimed five wickets for just 10 runs against arch-rivals Pakistan in Birmingham. At the time, it was the best bowling figures by an Indian woman in T20I cricket.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur handed Deepti the ball in the ninth over and the all-rounder struck with her very first delivery, dismissing Naomi Hamilton leg before wicket. Two deliveries later, she removed Nannaphat Chaihan, who was dismissed for a two-ball duck.
The two wickets saw Deepti draw level with Putthawong for the most wickets in women's T20Is. She then completed the record in the 17th over when she dismissed Nannapat Koncharoenkai for her 171st T20I wicket.
Despite claiming three wickets, Deepti did not concede a single run. She finished with extraordinary figures of 3/0 from her spell, including one maiden over.
With 171 wickets from 150 matches and two five-wicket hauls, Deepti now leads the women's T20I wicket-takers' list. Putthawong follows with 170 wickets from 109 matches, while Rwanda's Henriette Ishimwe has 164 wickets from 134 matches. England's Sophie Ecclestone is fourth with 154 wickets from 113 matches.
India had plenty of work to do with the bat before their bowlers took control of the contest. Shafali Verma provided a powerful start with a 36-ball 64, while Pratika Rawal contributed 22 on her T20I debut. Kranti Gaud added a quick 15 as India posted 159 for nine.
Thailand's chase never gathered momentum. Nattaya Boochatham was the only batter to offer significant resistance, scoring 41, while the rest of the batting lineup struggled against India's disciplined bowling attack.
Deepti Sharma and Nandani Sharma claimed three wickets each, while Shree Charani picked up two wickets as India bowled Thailand out to secure a convincing 94-run victory.
India will next face Hong Kong on Thursday, September 3, before taking on arch-rivals Pakistan on September 5 in what promises to be another major contest in the tournament.