Shree Charani scripts history, becomes fastest Indian to 50 T20I wickets

Shree Charani scripted history during the Women's Asia Cup semi-final against Bangladesh in Dubai on September 10, becoming the fastest Indian to 50 wickets in T20Is. The left-arm spinner reached the landmark in her 29th match, surpassing Kuldeep Yadav's record for India across both men's and women's cricket.

Charani claimed the milestone wicket by dismissing Bangladesh opener Juairiya Ferdous in the sixth over of the innings. Ferdous attempted to play across the line against a delivery that spun away, got a top edge and Richa Ghosh ran across to complete the catch behind the stumps. Ferdous departed for 14 off 18 balls, with two fours, handing Charani her 50th T20I wicket.

Charani then followed up with a maiden over, repeatedly hitting an excellent line and length outside off stump to force Sobhana Mostary into playing without any easy scoring opportunities.

How does Charani's record compare with other Indian bowlers?

Charani's 29-match tally puts her well clear of the previous Indian record holder Kuldeep, who took 30 matches to reach 50 T20I wickets. Varun Chakravarthy needed 32 matches, Arshdeep Singh 33 and Radha Yadav 36, placing Charani ahead of all established Indian names in this list.

On the global stage, Botswana's Dhruvkumar Maisuria holds the overall record, having reached 50 T20I wickets in just 22 matches back in 2023. In women's cricket specifically, China's Mengting Liu holds the record after achieving the feat in 28 matches, meaning Charani's 29-match tally places her second among all women's T20I bowlers.

What has driven Charani's rapid rise in international cricket?

Charani made her international debut in April 2025 and has established herself as a key member of India's spin attack in barely 18 months. Her ability to turn the ball and maintain pressure has made her a consistent threat in the shortest format.

Her breakthrough reached another level at the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup, where she finished as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 14 wickets in five matches. Her best figures at that tournament were 4 for 19 against the Netherlands. She also took three wickets each against South Africa and Pakistan, and two apiece against Bangladesh and Australia. Those performances helped her rise to the top of the ICC Women's T20I bowling rankings.

Prior to the World Cup, Charani had won the Player of the Series award on India's tour of England, and she has also been a key contributor for the Delhi Capitals in the Women's Premier League. The 50-wicket landmark in Dubai is the latest chapter in what has been a remarkable rise for the young spinner.

Fastest Indian bowlers to 50 T20I wickets: