Cricket fans were absolutely taken aback during the first ODI between India and Australia when the speed gun registered an astonishing 176.5 km/h for a delivery bowled by Mitchell Starc. The match, which took place in India, kicked off with an electrifying start as Starc’s thunderous delivery seemed faster than anything ever recorded in ODI history.
In his fiery opening spell of 5 overs, Starc only conceded 20 runs and snagged the pivotal wicket of Virat Kohli, sending him back to the pavilion without scoring. But it was his very first delivery to Rohit Sharma that stole the spotlight — hitting 176.5 km/h on the speedometer, a figure that quickly went viral across social media.
However, experts were quick to suggest that this reading was likely due to a technical hiccup in the speed tracking system. Normally, Starc bowls at speeds ranging from 140 to 150 km/h, which still places him among the fastest bowlers in the world.
Regardless of the technical mishap, this viral moment sparked renewed discussions about the fastest deliveries in cricket history. The official record for the fastest ball ever remains with Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar, who clocked in at 161.6 km/h (100.23 mph) during a match against England in 2003 — a record that has held strong for over twenty years.
Whether it was a glitch or not, Mitchell Starc’s remarkable delivery added another thrilling chapter to the storied rivalry between India and Australia, captivating cricket fans all over the globe.
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