Australia and India faced off in the first ODI of the series in Perth, with the hosts choosing to bowl first after winning the toss. Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc led the charge with a fiery opening spell that rattled the Indian top order.
While Starc did pick up a key wicket, it was one particular delivery that stole the spotlight. The very first ball of the match, bowled to Indian captain Rohit Sharma, registered a staggering 176.5 kilometres per hour on the speed gun, instantly triggering widespread discussion across media and fans.
However, reports from international outlets later confirmed that the reading was due to a technical error, and the actual pace of the delivery was around 140 km/h. Starc’s fastest legitimate delivery in the match was clocked at approximately 145 km/h, also to Rohit.
Despite not breaking any official speed records, Starc impressed with a sharp and aggressive spell. He finished his six overs with figures of 1 for 22, including one maiden. His early pressure paid off when he dismissed Virat Kohli for a duck, with the experienced batter departing after facing just eight balls in his return to ODI cricket.
Josh Hazlewood also contributed with disciplined bowling as Australia kept India under constant pressure. The rain-affected match was reduced to 26 overs, and India could only manage 136 for 9 by the end of their innings.
