In women’s cricket, claiming a five-wicket haul in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is is a rare feat that demands versatility, skill, and ice-cool nerves across formats. Only four bowlers have conquered this trifecta: India’s Jhulan Goswami and Deepti Sharma, England’s Jenny Gunn, and Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner. These trailblazers have redefined bowling excellence, with Deepti Sharma becoming the latest to join the club on April 25, 2026, via a career-best 5/19 in the 4th T20I against South Africa at Johannesburg’s Wanderers Stadium.
Defending 186, her spell sealed a 14-run win and Player of the Match honours, helping India register their first win on the South African tour ahead of the final game of the five-match T20I series on 27th April 2026 at Benoni (5:30 PM IST). As India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, eyes redemption at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England and Wales (June 12–July 5), let’s celebrate these legends.
Jhulan Goswami (India)
Jhulan Goswami, India’s legendary pacer, completed the landmark in 2012 with her maiden T20I five-for (5/11) against Australia at Visakhapatnam on March 23 (India won by 8 wickets). Retiring on September 24, 2022, after a storied career from her ODI debut on January 6, 2002, against England in Chennai, she amassed 255 ODI wickets at 22.04 (3.37) in 204 matches (seven 4-fers, two 5-fers, maiden 5/16 vs England at Silchar on December 7, 2005; POTM in a 10-wicket win); 56 T20I wickets at 21.94 (5.45) in 67 innings from her August 5, 2006, debut vs England at Derby; and 44 Test wickets at 17.36 (2.02) in 12 matches from January 14, 2002, vs England at Lucknow (two 4-fers, three 5-fers, one 10-fer. First five-for 5/25 vs England at Delhi on November 21, 2005). Goswami’s fire set the gold standard.
Jenny Gunn (England)
One of the pioneers, England’s Jenny Gunn, sealed her all-format five-fors on August 13, 2014, with 5/19 against India at Wormsley in a Test. From her ODI debut on February 15, 2004, vs South Africa at Port Elizabeth, she snared 136 wickets at 28.10 (3.88) in 136 innings (four 4-fers, two 5-fers. Maiden 5/31 vs New Zealand at Derby on July 15, 2010; POTM in a 6-wicket win); 75 T20I wickets at 19.82 (6.44) in 104 matches from August 5, 2004, vs New Zealand at Hove (two 4-fers, one 5-fer) best 5/18 vs New Zealand at Bridgetown on October 22, 2013; 19-run win); and 29 Test wickets at 22.24 (1.76) in 11 matches from August 21, 2004, vs New Zealand at Scarborough. Retiring October 15, 2019, Gunn’s seam mastery lit up English summers.
Ashleigh Gardner (Australia)
Ashleigh Gardner joined the club on December 11, 2024, with a dominant 5/30 in an ODI against India at W.A.C.A., Perth. Since her ODI debut on March 2, 2017, vs New Zealand at Mount Maunganui, she’s claimed 124 wickets at 22.43 (4.29) in 93 matches (1 five-for); 81 T20I wickets at 20.92 (6.60) in 100 matches from February 17, 2017, vs New Zealand at Melbourne (one 4-fer and one 5-fer). Best 5/12 vs New Zealand at Paarl on February 11, 2023); and 31 Test wickets at 19.32 (2.53) in 8 matches from July 18, 2019, vs England at Taunton (three 4-fers, one 5-fer, one 10-fer). Five-for 8/66 vs England at Nottingham on June 22, 2023). Gardner’s explosive all-round game keeps Australia dominant.
Deepti Sharma (India)
Deepti Sharma etched her name in history with that blistering 4-0-19-5 against South Africa, her maiden T20I five-for since her debut on January 31, 2016, against Australia in Sydney. Across 346 international wickets since her ODI bow on November 28, 2014, against South Africa in Bengaluru, she’s a format-slaying force: 166 ODI wickets at 27.69 (economy 4.45) in 124 matches, including 3 four-fors, 2 five-fors, and 2 six-fers, maiden five-for (6/20) versus Sri Lanka at Ranchi on February 19, 2016; 156 T20I wickets at 19.43 (6.22) in 137 innings, now with a five-for; and 22 Test wickets at 19.50 (2.37) in 9 innings across 6 matches, highlighted by 5/7 against England at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, on December 14, 2023 (India won by 347 runs; Player of the Match). At 24, Deepti’s off-spin wizardry fuels India’s World Cup charge.
These four icons inspire the next generation, just as Deepti’s heroics rally India for the T20 World Cup showdown on familiar English soil.
Loves all things female cricket