India all-rounder Deepti Sharma is on the cusp of becoming the all-time leading wicket-taker in women's international cricket. The 28-year-old off-spinner will have the opportunity to claim the record when India faces Bangladesh in their fourth Group A match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 on Thursday in Manchester.
Record within reach
Deepti is currently tied with former India pace legend Jhulan Goswami at 355 wickets each in women's international cricket. A single wicket against Bangladesh will propel her to the top of the all-time list, cementing her legacy as one of the game's premier all-rounders.
Impressive World Cup campaign
Deepti has been in stellar form during the World Cup. She opened the tournament with a five-wicket haul against arch-rivals Pakistan, playing a decisive role in India's victory. She followed that with figures of 1/26 in three overs against the Netherlands in Leeds, a performance that drew her level with Jhulan's long-standing record.
However, Deepti went wicketless in India's previous outing against South Africa, where the Proteas secured a six-wicket win. Despite that setback, she remains one of India's most potent bowling weapons and is expected to play a crucial role against Bangladesh as the team looks to strengthen its chances of reaching the semi-finals.
Deepti's career statistics
Among Indian bowlers, Deepti is already the country's highest wicket-taker in T20 Internationals and the leading wicket-taker in the format globally, with 167 wickets from 147 matches. She has also picked up 166 wickets in 124 One-Day Internationals, second only to Jhulan Goswami's 255 ODI wickets for India.
In Test cricket, Deepti has claimed 22 wickets in just six matches. Jhulan finished her illustrious international career with 44 Test wickets, 255 ODI wickets, and 56 T20I scalps before retiring in 2022.
All-time wicket-taking list
Behind Deepti and Jhulan on the all-time women's international wicket-taking charts are England's Katherine Sciver-Brunt (335), Australia's Ellyse Perry (332), England spinner Sophie Ecclestone (327), and South Africa fast bowler Shabnim Ismail (318).
With a historic milestone within touching distance, all eyes will be on Deepti when India take on Bangladesh in a crucial World Cup encounter on Thursday.
