England, ranked No. 2 in the world, staged a strong comeback in the third T20I against India despite missing captain Nat Sciver-Brunt due to a groin injury. Tammy Beaumont stepped in as captain, and the opening pair of Danni Wyatt-Hodge and vice-captain Sophia Dunkley finally delivered after a string of low scores. Their 137-run stand laid the foundation, with Dunkley scoring 75 off 53 and Wyatt-Hodge adding 66 off 42, helping England post 171/9.
India responded with an explosive 85-run opening stand, but Sophie Ecclestone removed Shafali Verma just before her half-century. Smriti Mandhana notched her 31st T20I fifty but was soon dismissed by Lauren Filer. After the openers fell, India’s momentum dipped as England’s bowlers tightened control. India ultimately fell 5 runs short, making it 2-1 in the five-match series.
However, the series continues to be eventful. Just like the first two matches, the third encounter also witnessed record-breaking performances, adding further excitement to an already thrilling contest. Radha Yadav will always remember the fifth ball of the 17th over. She shattered stand-in captain Tammy Beaumont’s middle stump to claim her 100th T20 International wicket, marking a milestone moment in her career.
This landmark wicket made her only the second Indian player to reach the milestone of 100 T20I wickets, across genders. She also joins an elite group, becoming one of just twenty cricketers in women’s cricket to achieve this feat.
Coming into the series, she was just behind leg-spinner Poonam Yadav, who had 98 wickets. After taking 2 wickets in the opening match, she surpassed Poonam and moved into second place on the list of highest wicket-takers for India in T20 Internationals.
Highest wicket-takers for India in Women’s T20I:
Deepti Sharma
The leader of India’s spin attack, Deepti Sharma, sits at the top of the list with 144 wickets in 127 T20I matches. With 3 wickets in the third match, she also became the second-highest wicket taker in WT20Is, sharing the position with Pakistan’s Nida Dar. Ever since her debut, the 27-year-old has been a vital part of the Indian setup. She consistently bowls tight lines and lengths, offering no easy runs and maintaining an impressive economy rate of just 6.09. Her best bowling figures of 4 for 10 came against the West Indies in 2019. With the ability to contribute crucial runs with the bat as well, she stands out as the ideal all-rounder every team hopes to have.
Radha Yadav
Next on the list is left-arm spinner Radha Yadav. By taking the wicket of Em Arlott in the series opener, Yadav rose to second place among India’s highest wicket-takers in T20Is. Since her debut, the left-armer has been a consistent presence in the T20I squad. In the 87 matches she has played, Radha Yadav has claimed 100 wickets, becoming only the second Indian to reach this milestone. She is a clever bowler and maintains an economy of 6.67. She also has two 4-fers to her name. Her best bowling figure of 4/23 came against Sri Lanka in the ICC T20 World Cup 2020.
Poonam Yadav
Although she last appeared in India colours in 2022, Poonam Yadav was once a vital member of the national side during her time as a regular in the team. The senior leg spinner made her debut in 2013 and since then has played 72 matches, taking 98 wickets. Her bowling stats are impressive and fully justify her place on the list, with an average of 15.25 and a remarkable economy rate of just 5.75 in a format where batters look to attack from the very first ball. She also boasts three four-wicket hauls, consistently rising to the occasion on big stages. Her best figures of 4 for 9 came in the 2018 Asia Cup final against Bangladesh, a match India narrowly lost despite her standout performance.
Rajeshwari Gayakwad
The Karnataka spinner made her debut for India in the year 2013. Standing on number 4, the left-arm spinner has taken 61 wickets in her 58 T20I appearances. She maintains an economy of 6.15 and a strike rate of 18.6. Her 3/9 against South Africa in 2021 at Lucknow is her career-best performance in the format. With the emergence of young spinners, Gayakwad has not been part of the T20I setup in recent years. However, she remains active in the game, continuing to represent UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League.
Renuka Singh Thakur
Renuka Thakur is the only medium-fast bowler to feature on the list. Known for her ability to swing the ball, she has claimed 58 wickets in 54 T20I matches for India. Despite primarily operating in the powerplay, where scoring rates are typically high, she maintains an impressive economy rate of 6.36. Thakur also has two four-wicket hauls and a five-wicket haul to her name, highlighting her effectiveness with the new ball. Her best performance came against England in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023, where she picked up 5 wickets for just 15 runs. This remarkable 5/15 stands as the second-best bowling figures in an innings for India in T20Is, only behind Jhulan Goswami’s 5 for 11.
