The third match of the Women's Asia Cup 2026 pitted India against Thailand in an encounter that proved to be monumental for star spinner Deepti Sharma. Marking her 150th T20I appearance for the national side, she delivered a masterclass performance that propelled her to the top of the all-time wicket-taking charts in Women's T20I cricket. By surpassing Thailand spinner Thipatcha Putthawong, she claimed the coveted number-one spot. During the clash against Thailand, Deepti snatched 3 wickets in the space of just 7 deliveries.
Leading wicket-takers in Women's T20I history
A closer look at the highest wicket-takers in Women's T20I cricket reveals that Deepti Sharma now sits comfortably at the summit with 171 wickets from 150 matches. Thailand's Thipatcha Putthawong occupies the second position, having accumulated 170 wickets across 109 games. Rwanda's Henriette Ishimwe holds the third spot with 164 wickets in 134 matches, while England's Sophie Ecclestone follows in fourth place after taking 154 wickets in 113 T20I fixtures.
Three wickets without conceding a single run
Prior to the commencement of the Asia Cup, both Deepti and Thipatcha were tied at the top with 168 wickets apiece. Thipatcha subsequently took 1 wicket against Hong Kong in her opening fixture to edge ahead of Deepti as the top-ranked bowler. She added another wicket against India to reach 170 scalps, but Deepti quickly reclaimed the upper hand by dismissing three Thai batters. During this exceptional spell, she bowled 1.1 overs without conceding a single run while claiming her three wickets.
Comprehensive victory for the Indian women's team
Reflecting on the match itself, the Indian women's team secured a commanding 94-run victory over Thailand, kicking off their Asia Cup campaign in style. Batting first, India posted a total of 159 for 9 in their 20 overs. In response, the Thailand women's team was bundled out for 65 runs in 16.1 overs. Shafali Verma anchored the innings with a blistering knock of 64 runs from 36 balls, earning her the Player of the Match award.
