Spin’s face changes often in Indian women’s cricket. From Poonam Yadav to Vaishnavi Sharma, there have been several spinners who have donned blue over the last few years.

But there has been one bright smile that has remained a constant.

Deepti Sharma’s smile lit up the Greenfield Stadium on Tuesday night after dismissing Sri Lanka’s Nilakshi Silva. That was a crucial blow to the visitor as the chase was still very much on at that stage despite the end of the big second-wicket stand between Hasini Perera and Imesha Dulani.

For the off-spinning all-rounder, it was another day in the office. Deepti is often entrusted with the task of taking a crucial wicket for India or keeping the run rate in check, and she usually delivers.

The wicket of Nilakshi was special for another reason. That was Deepti’s 152nd in T20Is, the one that made her the format’s leading bowler, replacing Australian seamer Megan Schutt.

Deepti is glad of her latest achievement. “It always feels good when you reach such milestones,” she said shortly after the game. “I always try to make an impact with my performance so that it will help the team.”

The world saw the kind of impact she could have only a couple of months ago. She scored 58 and then took five wickets to help India win the World Cup final against South Africa.

She still holds the record, alongside Punam Raut, for the highest opening-wicket stand in women’s ODIs – 320 against Ireland in 2017. She had struck 188 off 160 balls.

Deepti is happy that India could follow up the World Cup victory with a commanding show against Sri Lanka in the T20I series. “This 5-0 result was a complete team effort,” she said. “We had different match winners in every game. It is nice that we have carried the momentum from the World Cup to this series, though the format has changed.”

Published on Dec 31, 2025