​India’s Deepti Sharma added another landmark to her storied career on the opening day of the one-off women’s Test against England at Lord’s, becoming the highest wicket-taker in the history of women’s international cricket. The 27-year-old all-rounder surpassed legendary fast bowler Jhulan Goswami to claim the coveted record, finishing the day with 356 international wickets, moving ahead of Goswami’s 355 and cementing her status as the premier wicket-taker in women’s cricket.
Deepti’s achievement places her at the pinnacle of a distinguished all-time list, with Sophie Ecclestone of England close behind on 338 wickets, Ellyse Perry of Australia on 336, Katherine Sciver-Brunt of England on 335, and Shabnim Ismail of South Africa on 325. The milestone arrived on a day when Deepti also played a crucial role with the bat, contributing a valuable 57 that helped India reach 285 in their first innings after a mid-order collapse.
Her all-round contribution means Deepti Sharma now leads a celebrated cadre of bowlers who have defined the era of women’s international cricket. The numbers underscore the depth Britain’s Sophie Ecclestone has achieved as England’s leading wicket-taker with 338 wickets, a record she attained during this innings after finishing with 3 for 68. She surpassed Katherine Sciver-Brunt to reach the top of England’s list.
The day’s events at Lord’s unfolded with India posting a competitive 285 after a challenging start. India’s top order faced early trouble as Shafali Verma and Yastika Bhatia fell within the first seven overs, but Smriti Mandhana steadied the innings with a fluent 83, and Harmanpreet Kaur contributed 58 as the captain’s innings also played a pivotal role. Deepti herself contributed 57, forming a 45-run partnership with Sneh Rana that helped delay England’s charge and extend India’s innings.
Mandhana’s 83 was part of a disciplined, aggressive stand first with Jemimah Rodrigues, who struck 35 off 38 balls. The 64-run partnership for the third wicket between Mandhana and Rodrigues shifted India past the 100-run mark and signaled an era of calculated risk-taking against England’s bowling attack. Mandhana then combined with Harmanpreet for a 89-run fourth-wicket stand that kept India in control through the middle session, providing a platform for Deepti and the lower order to contribute.
England’s counter-attack, however, began to swing the balance as Mandhana fell just short of a century. Harmanpreet departed on the stroke of tea, triggering a late slide for India that saw the visitors lose their last seven wickets for 85 runs to be bowled out for 285. Deepti’s composed 57 largely underpinned India’s resilience, and her partnership with Rana helped blunt England’s momentum on a day dominated by big personal milestones.
England’s reply at stumps stood at 21 for 1, with Tammy Beaumont dismissed for two by Kranti Goud. Maya Bouchier remained 17 not out, and Heather Knight was 1 not out as England closed behind by 264 runs. The night session left the hosts with work to do if they hoped to chase down a substantial total on the opening day of this single-Test affair.
The day also witnessed another landmark: Ecclestone’s ascent to England’s all-time leading wicket-taker in women’s international cricket, surpassing Sciver-Brunt with her 3 for 68. The record chase for both teams now centers on balancing bat and ball, with Deepti’s all-round excellence and Mandhana’s free-flowing strokeplay providing India with a solid platform as they seek to convert a commanding performance into a decisive result.
As the match progressed, Deepti Sharma’s record-breaking achievement stood out as a testament to her enduring impact on the game. With 356 international wickets to her name, she has not only rewritten the record books but also inspired a generation of aspiring cricketers to pursue excellence in women’s cricket. The Lord’s crowd witnessed the making of a new standard in international bowling and a demonstration of India’s competitive spirit, led from the front by Mandhana, Harmanpreet, and Deepti in a day that will be remembered for both individual milestones and team resilience.