Did Mitchell Starc Bowl 176.5 kmph in India Vs Australia 1st ODI?

In a gripping start to the first ODI in Perth, Mitchell Starc delivered remarkable spell against India. Australian pacerled the Indian top with his -over spell, figures of 51-201. This helped Australia gain an advantage over Shubman Gill's team.

Starc's delivery to Rohit Sharma, clocked at 176.5 kmph, became a viral sensation. Although it was likely a speed gun error, it sparked widespread online discussion. Despite this anomaly, Starc consistently bowled around 140 kmph, with one legitimate delivery reaching 145 kmph.

Starc's Impact on Indian Batters

The Australian bowler troubled Rohit Sharma with his precise lengths and bounce from the Perth pitch. Rohit struggled to score quickly, which visibly frustrated him. Starc's pressure paid off when Josh Hazlewood dismissed Rohit for just 8 runs in the fourth over.

After Rohit's dismissal, Australia maintained their momentum. Starc capitalised on this by dismissing Virat Kohli for an 8-ball duck in the seventh over. Kohli attempted to push at a ball angling across him and ended up being caught by Cooper Connolly at point.

India's Struggles Continue

India faced further setbacks when captain Shubman Gill nicked a delivery down the leg side back to the keeper in the ninth over. By the end of the powerplay, India had managed only 27 runs for the loss of three wickets, marking their joint-worst performance since 2023 in ODIs.

The early dismissals put India under immense pressure as they tried to recover from their poor start. Australia's bowlers exploited the conditions effectively, leaving India's batters struggling to find their rhythm.