NEW DELHI: India’s rising left-arm pacer Shree Charani has equaled the record for the most wickets by an Indian bowler in a single edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup, matching Poonam Yadav10-wicket haul from the 2020 tournament.Charani achieved the milestone during India’s Group A clash against South Africa in the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England, achieving the feat in just her third game in the tournament.The 21-year-old has now claimed 10 wickets for 64 runs in 12 overs at an impressive economy rate of 5.33, underlining her rapid rise on the global stage.With at least two league games remaining — and potentially more in the knockout stages — Charani now stands on the verge of making history by becoming the outright record holder.
Most wickets by India in a single edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup
- 10 – Poonam Yadav (2020)
- 10 – Shree Charani (2026)
- 9 – Diana David (2010)
- 8 – Poonam Yadav (2014)
- 8 – Poonam Yadav (2018)
- 8 – Radha Yadav (2018)
Charani shines despite India’s loss to South Africa
Charani’s record-breaking performance came in a tight contest at a crucial stage of the tournament, although India eventually fell to South Africa by six wickets.South Africa chased down India’s total of 158/7 with five balls to spare, finishing at 161/4, powered by a superb unbeaten 81 from Marizanne Kapp.Kapp, who also contributed with the ball, capitalized on two missed chances to anchor a decisive 97-run partnership with Tazmin Brits (40), which turned the game in South Africa’s favour.India briefly took control thanks to Charana’s brilliance in the powerplay. She struck twice in a sensational spell, removing Laura Wolvaardt and Annerie Dercksen in quick succession to end South Africa’s early momentum.However, missed opportunities in the field allowed the Proteas to recover and Kapp made full use of her lifeline to bring her team home.Earlier, India struggled on a weak pitch and were reduced from 54 not out to 83 for four before Deepti Sharma (29) and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (24) steadied the innings. Despite their efforts, India could only post a sub-par total.While India underperformed in the match, Charani’s consistency proved to be one of the biggest positives of the campaign. With two matches remaining in the group stage and a possible knockout, she now has a realistic chance of surpassing Poonam Yadav to become the record holder.
