Deepti Sharma becomes first Indian to take 100 T20I wickets

Deepti Sharma created history as she became the first Indian cricketer to bag 100 wickets in T20I cricket on Wednesday (February 15). The star off-spinner took three wickets against the West Indies in India’s ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 clash at Newlands, Cape Town to record a historic achievement.

The 25-year-old right-arm off-spinner bowled out Afy Fletcher on the innings’ last over to get her 100th wicket. She bagged three for 15 to bowl out the Caribbean side for just 118//6. Renuka and Vastrakar also grabbed one wicket each while Stafanie Taylor top-scored with 42 off 40 for the West Indies.

Deepti became India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is with the wicket of veteran batter Stafanie Taylor. She surpassed veteran leg-spinner Poonam Yadav, who has 98 wickets from 72 T20Is. In men’s T20I cricket, Yuzvendra Chahal is leading the bowling chart for India with 91 wickets while Bhuvneshwar Kumar has 90 wickets to his name.

Veteran West Indies spinner Anisa Mohammed remains at the top with 125 wickets in 117 T20Is. She last played an international T20I in September 2021. Deepti has reached the 100-wicket mark in just 87 T20I innings at an average of 19.07 and an economy rate of 6.10. She is India’s top-ranked bowler in the current ICC T20I chart and ranks second in ICC Women’s T20I all-rounder’s rankings.

Deepti Sharma in WPL Auction

Deepti is enjoying a great week, as she bagged a big contract at the Women’s Premier League. UP Warriorz made her the second-most expensive Indian cricketer by singing her for a sum of INR 2.6 Crore.

Deepti is also closing on 100-wicket mark in ODIs with 91 wickets in 80 innings. She an averages 30.01 and an economy rate of 4.18 in the ODI format. She is only eight wickets behind Rajeshwari Gayakwad, who is India’s leading wicket-taker in ODIs among active cricketers.