The first ODI between Australia and India witnessed high drama right from the start, as Mitchell Starc produced a spell that left fans and experts talking. He set up the Indian opener beautifully, trapping him in confusion and eventually dismissing him for an eight-ball duck. But surprisingly, that wicket wasn’t even the biggest talking point of his fiery spell.
What really grabbed global attention was Starc’s very first delivery to the Indian captain. As soon as the ball left his hand, the speed gun registered an astonishing 176.5 kmph, a figure that instantly sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. The commentators were left stunned, unsure if what they saw was accurate or just a radar glitch.
Fans flooded social media with reactions, memes, and comparisons, calling it the fastest ball ever bowled in ODI history. Many cricket enthusiasts began drawing parallels with Shoaib Akhtar’s famous 161.3 kmph thunderbolt from 2003, wondering if Starc had just broken that two-decade-old record.
Mitchell Starc 176.5 Kmph 🔥
— ICC Asia Cricket (@ICCAsiaCricket) October 20, 2025
Fastest ball in history — powered by technical error! ⚙️ pic.twitter.com/y7pQ6lCNmf
However, experts were quick to point out that the reading might have been a technical error, as such extreme speed is nearly impossible under normal conditions. Even then, the delivery’s raw pace and movement were enough to rattle the Indian skipper, who barely had time to react.
Regardless of the radar controversy, Starc’s spell became the talking point of the match. Whether the 176.5 kmph reading was real or not, one thing was clear — the Australian speedster had once again proven why he remains one of the most fearsome bowlers in modern-day cricket.