Deepti Sharma holds the record today, but Thipatcha Putthawong has the stronger claim on efficiency. The women’s T20I wickets changed hands repeatedly during the Asia Cup, and the two spinners are separated by only a handful of wickets. The answer depends on whether you reward the rate at which wickets arrive or the quality of the batters who lost them. Their routes to the total differ sharply: one built it through longevity against elite batters, the other through an extraordinary strike rate over far fewer matches.
How the Record Changed Hands Again
Deepti first topped the list on 30 December 2025, when her 152nd wicket, in her 133rd T20I, passed Megan Schutt’s 151. Putthawong later took the lead. In Dubai, Deepti’s spell of 3/0 against Thailand put her on 171 to Putthawong’s 170.
On 1 September, Putthawong reached 172 against Pakistan and regained the record. Deepti then took three against Hong Kong and two against Pakistan, reaching 176 by 9 September, when Putthawong sat on 174. Two bowlers swapping the top spot within a single tournament shows how tight the race is, and how different the two careers behind it look.
Asia Cup 2026 Putthawong vs Deepti Sharma wickets record
Deepti finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 13 wickets and was named Player of the Series. Her figures: 3/0 against Thailand, 3/9 against Hong Kong, 2/5 against Pakistan, 3/26 in the semi-final against Bangladesh and 2/15 in the final.
She is also the Asia Cup’s all-time leading wicket-taker, with 37 across all editions. India beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs on 13 September, and adding the semi-final and final to her 9 September total takes her to about 181. Those five wickets in the last two games moved her further clear of Putthawong, a finish that suited the player already leading the tournament.
Putthawong took her 200th international wicket (170 in T20Is, 30 in ODIs) against India, dismissing Harmanpreet Kaur. That is a statement wicket, even if the tournament belonged to Deepti.
Opposition Quality Behind the Totals
Putthawong reached 150 wickets in her 99th T20I against Mongolia, taking 5/0 as they were dismissed for 19. She was the fourth woman to reach 150 and by far the fastest in matches.
Deepti’s wickets include Chamari Athapaththu and Danny Wyatt-Hodge (six times each) and Tammy Beaumont, Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney (five each), as of her 152nd wicket. Those are established names in the format.
There is no clean split of each bowler’s wickets by opposition, but the context differs. Putthawong needed 41 fewer matches to reach about 170 wickets. A five-wicket return against a side bowled out for 19 tells you about dominance, but less about how a bowler handles top-class batters.
Averages, Economy and Strike Rates Compared
Figures are at their 170th and 171st wickets, with strike rates calculated from average and economy.
Bowler | T20Is | Wickets | Average | Economy | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Putthawong | 109 | 170 | 9.23 | 4.10 | 13.5 |
Deepti Sharma | 150 | 171 | 19.58 | 6.34 | 18.5 |
In every column of the table, Putthawong has the sharper numbers. She has three five-wicket hauls, six four-wicket hauls and a best of 5/0. The gap in economy is the widest of the three, and it is hard to argue against numbers that separate the bowlers by more than two runs an over.
Deepti has two five-wicket hauls and one four-wicket haul, with a best of 5/10 against Pakistan at the 2026 T20 World Cup. She also has 1,275 T20I runs at a strike rate of 107.05.
Why Numbers Alone Cannot Settle the Debate
Per match, Putthawong is the more efficient bowler: she concedes fewer runs, takes wickets faster, and reached the mark sooner. But Thailand’s schedule is mostly against associate sides, such as Mongolia, who can be dismissed cheaply, and no split by opposition is published. Deepti’s total was built over 150 matches against stronger batters, and she adds batting value.
If the question is who bowls better over a match, Putthawong wins it. If it is who has proved it longer against tougher sides, Deepti does.
Deepti holds the record now, and her case rests on quality and longevity. Putthawong’s rests on rate. The Asia Cup 2026 Putthawong vs Deepti Sharma wickets record argument depends on how heavily you weigh the opposition.
Who deserves the crown, Putthawong for her rate or Deepti for her longevity? Make your case in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who has taken the most wickets in women’s T20Is?
Deepti Sharma has taken the most, with about 181 wickets after the Asia Cup final. She reached 176 by 9 September before adding five more in the semi-final and final.
How many T20I wickets does Thipatcha Putthawong have?
Putthawong was on 174 T20I wickets on 9 September 2026. She had 170 when she took her 200th international wicket against India, which also included 30 in ODIs.
How old is Thipatcha Putthawong?
Putthawong is 22 years old. She was born on 7 March 2004, debuted in T20Is in January 2019 as a 14-year-old, and now captains Thailand as a left-arm orthodox spinner.
How many T20I wickets does Deepti Sharma have?
Deepti has about 181 T20I wickets. She had 171 in her 150th T20I and 176 by 9 September 2026, then added more in the semi-final and final.
Who is Thipatcha Putthawong?
Putthawong is a Thai left-arm orthodox spinner and captain, born in Chiang Mai. She debuted in T20Is in January 2019 and reached 150 wickets in her 99th match, the quickest by matches.