Indian women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur has etched her name in the record books, becoming the most successful skipper in the history of Women's T20 Internationals. The milestone was achieved during India's comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the third T20I at Thiruvananthapuram's Greenfield International Stadium on Friday.
A New Captaincy Benchmark
With this win, Harmanpreet Kaur secured her 77th victory as captain in 130 T20I matches. This feat sees her surpass the previous record held by Australian legend Meg Lanning, who had 76 wins from 100 matches at the helm. Kaur's 130 matches as captain also stand as the most by any player, male or female, in the T20I format.
The list of most successful women's T20I captains now features Harmanpreet Kaur at the pinnacle, followed by Meg Lanning. England's Heather Knight, with 71 wins in 96 matches, and her compatriot Charlotte Edwards, with 68 wins in 93 matches, occupy the next spots. The victory also sealed the five-match T20I series for India, who took an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Deepti Sharma's Historic All-Round Double
While Harmanpreet celebrated a leadership landmark, star all-rounder Deepti Sharma carved her own unique niche in cricket history. During the same match, Deepti became the first cricketer ever, across men's and women's cricket, to achieve the double of 1000 runs and 150 wickets in T20 Internationals.
Her three-wicket haul in the match was particularly significant. The dismissal of Sri Lanka's Kavisha Dilhari in the 14th over marked her 150th T20I wicket. This brilliant spell also propelled her to the joint-highest wicket-taker position in women's T20Is, drawing level with Australia's Megan Schutt at 151 wickets.
Deepti Sharma, who hails from Agra, Uttar Pradesh, is currently in the form of her life. She was a pivotal figure in India's historic triumph at the 2025 ICC Women's ODI World Cup on home soil, a performance for which she was deservedly crowned the Player of the Tournament.
Clinical Series Victory for India
The match itself was a demonstration of India's dominance. After winning the toss and opting to field, the Indian bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to a modest total. The charge was led by medium pacer Renuka Singh Thakur, who claimed an impressive four-wicket haul.
In response, the Indian chase was spearheaded by a blistering innings from opener Shafali Verma, who remained unbeaten on 79 runs. Her powerful hitting ensured that the target of 113 was chased down comfortably in just 13.2 overs, showcasing the team's aggressive intent and firepower.
This series win, punctuated by individual records of immense significance, underscores the growing strength and depth of Indian women's cricket on the global stage. The team will look to continue this momentum in the remaining matches of the series.
