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Australia‘s pace spearhead Mitchell Starc produced a blistering opening spell against India in the first ODI at Optus Stadium, Perth, leaving the visitors reeling early in the innings. Bowling with venom and precision, Starc finished his initial burst with figures of 5-1-20-1, helping the hosts seize control in the powerplay. While his spell included the prized wicket of Virat Kohli, the real talking point of the match came from an eye-popping moment when the speed gun recorded one of his deliveries at 176.5 kmph — a figure that left fans and commentators stunned.
Speed gun shows 176.5 kmph — world record or technical glitch?
The incident occurred during Starc’s first over, when his delivery to Rohit Sharma flashed an unbelievable 176.5 kmph reading on the speed gun. For context, the fastest delivery ever officially recorded in cricket history belongs to Shoaib Akhtar, who clocked 161.3 kmph against England’s Nick Knight during the 2003 World Cup.
If Starc’s reading were accurate, it would have shattered Akhtar’s long-standing record by a massive 15 kmph — an almost impossible feat in the modern era. Unsurprisingly, social media was abuzz within seconds, as fans joked about the “world’s fastest ball” and shared memes speculating about Starc’s superhuman pace. Many, however, quickly pointed out that it was likely a technical error or speed gun malfunction.
Despite the exaggerated number, Starc’s genuine pace was still lethal. His deliveries consistently touched 140–145 kmph, troubling Indian batters with bounce and movement off the Perth surface. The left-arm pacer’s first few overs were a masterclass in seam bowling, using the new ball expertly to target the corridor of uncertainty.
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Starc and Josh Hazlewood dismantle India’s top order
Rohit was the first to face Starc’s heat, finding it difficult to adjust to the extra bounce and sharp movement. Although he managed to punch a couple of crisp shots, his timing was far from ideal. The sustained pressure eventually paid off when Josh Hazlewood removed the former Indian captain for 8 runs off 14 balls, drawing an edge to the slip cordon in the fourth over.
Starc then struck in the seventh over, dismissing Kohli for an eight-ball duck. Kohli, looking to drive on the up, edged a full delivery that angled across him, and Cooper Connolly completed a superb diving catch at backward point. It marked Kohli’s first ODI duck on Australian soil, further amplifying India’s early woes.
Soon after, captain Shubman Gill followed the senior duo back to the pavilion, nicking behind off a delivery that strayed down the leg side. The scoreboard read 27/3 at the end of the powerplay, equalling India’s joint-lowest score in the first ten overs of an ODI since 2023.
