Australian pacer Mitchell Starc created a social media storm during the first ODI against India on Sunday when a delivery from him was clocked at a stunning speed of 176.5 kmph.
The opening left-arm delivery to former Indian captain Rohit Sharma was clocked at 176.5 km/h, prompting speculation that Starc had broken Shoaib Akhtar’s world record (161.3 km/h) for the fastest delivery in international cricket.
However, the figure was soon corrected, with officials clarifying that the speed gun was malfunctioning.
Australia defeated India in the rain-shortened 26-over match by seven wickets, chasing the target of 137 runs in 21.1 overs for the loss of three wickets.
Captain Mitchell Marsh remained the top scorer with 46 off 52 deliveries, peppered with two fours and three sixes.
Batting first, India had posted 136 for nine, led by KL Rahul’s 38 off 31 balls, with two fours and two sixes.
Starc set the tone for Australia early on, dismissing Virat Kohli for a duck, the Indian star’s first-ever ODI duck on Australian soil.
The wicket came when Kohli, trying to push a long delivery, advanced the ball to Cooper Connolly at backward point.
With the dismissal, Starc also became only the second bowler, after England’s James Anderson, to dismiss Kohli twice for a duck in international cricket.
India were already on the back foot after Rohit Sharma fell to Josh Hazlewood for 8 (14), leaving the visitors struggling at 13 for 1 in the fourth over.
Starc’s fiery opening spell totaled 1/22 in six overs, cementing his reputation as one of the most lethal new ball bowlers in world cricket.
