Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma marked her 150th T20 International match with a cake-cutting ceremony after her team’s victory against Thailand in the women’s Asia Cup opener.
This achievement makes her the third Indian woman to reach this milestone, following in the footsteps of Harmanpreet Kaur (202 matches) and Smriti Mandhana (171 matches). In this match, Deepti contributed five runs and delivered an impressive bowling performance, finishing with figures of 0 runs for 3 wickets in just 1.1 overs.
Coach Praises Deepti’s Commitment
In a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Amol Muzumdar, the head coach of the Indian women’s team, commended Deepti for her unwavering dedication and effort in both practice and matches. He stated, “I’ve never seen her miss a practice session or a match. She is always the first to arrive at the nets and the last to leave. This recognition is a testament to your hard work, Deepti. Keep aiming high and strive for another 150 games!”
Record-Breaking Bowling Performance
Deepti Sharma also became the leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20 Internationals, surpassing Thailand’s Thipatcha Putthawong with a total of 171 wickets. She achieved a remarkable bowling feat by taking 3 wickets without conceding any runs, making her the first Indian cricketer to accomplish this in a Women’s T20I. Her figures of 3 wickets for 0 runs represent the most economical three-wicket haul by an Indian in Women’s T20I history. Previously, Renuka Singh held the record with 3 wickets for 5 runs against Sri Lanka in Sylhet in 2022.
India’s Commanding Victory
In the match, India set a target of 159 runs, bolstered by Shafali Verma’s outstanding 64 runs off 36 balls, which included eight fours and three sixes. Despite a late-game collapse, India managed to secure a challenging score. Thailand struggled to build momentum during their chase, ultimately being bowled out for just 65 runs in 16.1 overs. Nandni Sharma shone with bowling figures of 3 wickets for 18 runs, while Shree Charani contributed with 2 wickets for 10 runs, showcasing India’s dominant spin attack. Nannapat Koncharoenkai was the standout performer for Thailand, scoring 41 runs off 48 balls.