Shree Charani creates history at 22, becomes fastest Indian to 50 T20I wickets

Shree Charani (Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: Young India spinner Shree Charani etched her name in the record books on Thursday, becoming the fastest Indian bowler to reach 50 wickets in women's T20Is and achieving the milestone at the age of just 22.Charani reached the landmark in her 29th T20I, putting her joint-second on the all-time list for the fastest bowlers to 50 wickets in the format. China's Mengting Liu holds the outright record, having reached 50 wickets in 28 matches.New Zealand's Leigh Kasperek and West Indies' Anisa Mohammed also took 29 matches to complete the milestone, putting Charani alongside two established names in the record books.

Fastest to 50 wickets in Women’s T20Is (by matches)

Charani joins elite company

Charani's achievement was even more significant given her age. At 22 years and 37 days, she became the second-youngest Indian to reach 50 women's T20I wickets.Radha Yadav remains India's youngest to the milestone, having achieved it at 20 years and 334 days. England's Sophie Ecclestone holds the overall record among players from full-member nations, reaching 50 wickets at 20 years and 300 days.New Zealand's Amelia Kerr, who reached the landmark at 21 years and 354 days, is the third-youngest, while Charani's achievement at 22 years and 37 days puts her fourth on the list.

Youngest to 50 wickets in Women’s T20Is (FM teams)

Her landmark wicket came during India's Women's Asia Cup semifinal against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Stadium.In the sixth over, Charani dismissed Juairiya Ferdous for 14, with wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh completing a catch after the Bangladesh batter attempted to play a big shot against the spinner.The dismissal was Charani's 50th T20I wicket and came as India looked to defend a competitive total.

India defend 149 after Shafali's blazing fifty

India had posted 149/6 in 20 overs, with Shafali Verma providing the main impetus after the early dismissal of vice-captain Smriti Mandhana for two.Shafali smashed 64 off 40 balls, hitting seven fours and three sixes, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur remained unbeaten on 24 off 28 balls. Pratika Rawal contributed 20 and Deepti Sharma provided a late burst with 13 off six deliveries.

Richa Ghosh also played a useful cameo, scoring 21 off 16 balls with two sixes.“It meant a lot because we had to continue. We had been trying to do this for a few matches before as well, but today we managed to do it, and that feels really good,” Richa said during the mid-innings break.Reflecting on the conditions, she added: “It was slow, and there was some turn, so it's really important.”With Charani reaching a landmark of her own, India's spin attack received another boost as the seven-time champions looked to book their place in Sunday's final.