IND vs AUS In the first ODI, Mitchell Starc bowled the ball to Rohit Sharma at a speed of 176.5 kmph, but there is a catch.
A VPN is an essential component of IT security, whether you’re just starting a business or are already up and running. Most business interactions and transactions happen online and VPN
The Indian team, captained by Shubman Gill, is facing the Australia team led by Mitchell Marsh in the first ODI of the three-match series at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, October 18. Notably, a ball bowled by Mitchell Starc to Rohit Sharma went viral on social media, garnering more attention than Virat Kohli’s dismissal.
In the opening match of the series, Australia won the toss and decided to bowl first. Starc was given the task of bowling the first over against Team India batsmen Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma. The left-arm bowler made headlines on his first ball by giving away just one run to Rohit in the opening over of the match.
Mitchell Starc’s ball went at a speed of 176.5 kmph for Rohit Sharma
Mitchell Starc’s opening delivery was initially recorded at 176.5 kmph, which caught attention on social media. Fans immediately suspected a technical error, as the speed far exceeded the known record. The fastest legal ball in cricket history was 161.3 kmph, bowled by Shoaib Akhtar during the 2003 World Cup.
Australian broadcasters reported a reading of 176.5 km/h before realizing the possible error. According to Cricbuzz, Mitchell Starc bowled the ball at a speed of 140.8 kmph, which Rohit played at short mid-on and was out after completing a quick single.
Starc maintained a fast pace throughout his spell and consistently bowled over 140 kmph, with one of his actual fastest balls recorded at nearly 145 kmph.
Mitchell Starc ends the first spell with one wicket
Mitchell Starc bowled a five-over spell with the new ball, finishing with figures of 5-1-20-1 as Australia took early control against the Shubman Gill-led side. He troubled Rohit Sharma with his consistent length and sharp bounce off the pitch.
The pressure paid off in the fourth over when Josh Hazlewood took an outside edge off Rohit, who was out after scoring just 8 runs off 14 balls. In the seventh over, Starc dismissed Virat Kohli for zero in eight balls. Kohli bowled a ball towards point, where Cooper Connolly took the catch.
In the ninth over, Shubman Gill was caught by the keeper on the leg side, reducing the team’s score to 27 for 3 in the powerplay. This was their joint-worst powerplay performance in ODIs since 2023.
There is huge pressure on Rohit Sharma to perform
There is a lot of pressure on Rohit Sharma to perform well in international cricket. Notably, he led India to victory in the 2025 Champions Trophy. However, Shubman Gill was named captain ahead of the Australia series, and Rohit’s place in the 2027 World Cup squad remains uncertain.
In the first ODI, Rohit made a slow start due to the extra bounce provided by the Perth pitch. This has increased the scrutiny on them and highlights the need to make the most of every opportunity.
To secure his place for this prestigious 50-over event, Rohit will have to score consistently and contribute impressively in the remaining matches. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts his approach in the next two matches of the series.
Also read: Tushar Deshpande suffered bronchitis attack in Ranji Trophy match
