Mitchell Starc bowls 176.5 kmph thunderbolt to Rohit Sharma in IND vs AUS 1st ODI, but there’s a catch

India, led by Shubman Gill are facing the Mitchell Marsh-led Australia team in the first ODI of the three-match series at Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, October 18. Notably, a delivery from Mitchell Starc to Rohit Sharma went viral on social media, drawing more attention than the dismissal of Virat Kohli.

Australia won the toss and opted to bowl first during the series opener. Starc was given the task of bowling the first over against Team India's batters, Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma. The left-arm bowler grabbed headlines with his first delivery, conceding just one run to Rohit in the opening over of the match.

Mitchell Starc’s Delivery Clocked at 176.5 kmph to Rohit Sharma

176.5 KPH from Mitchel Starc this. #AUSvIND #JioHotstar pic.twitter.com/NWKlZZAN2Z

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— Sumit (@Half_Fri) October 19, 2025

Mitchell Starc’s opening delivery was initially recorded at 176.5 kmph, grabbing attention on social media. Fans quickly suspected a technical error, as the speed far exceeded known records. The fastest legitimate delivery in cricket history was 161.3 kmph, bowled by Shoaib Akhtar during the 2003 World Cup.

Australian broadcasters reported the 176.5 kmph reading before the likely error was realized. According to Cricbuzz, Mitchell Starc bowled a 140.8 kmph ball, which Rohit played to short mid-on and completed a quick single to get off the mark.

Starc maintained a fiery pace throughout his spell, consistently bowling around 140 kmph, with one of his genuine fastest deliveries recorded at approximately 145 kmph.

Mitchell Starc Finishes 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 gained early control against the Shubman Gill-led side. He troubled Rohit Sharma with his consistent lengths and steep bounce from the pitch.

The pressure paid off in the fourth over when Josh Hazlewood induced an outside edge from Rohit, who departed after scoring just 8 runs off 14 balls. Starc removed Virat Kohli for an eight-ball duck in the seventh over. Kohli edged a delivery to point, where Cooper Connolly took the catch.

In the ninth over, Shubman Gill nicked down the leg side to the keeper, leaving the team reeling at 27 for 3 in the powerplay. It was their joint-worst powerplay showing in ODIs since 2023.

Rohit Sharma Has Been Under Immense Pressure to Perform

Rohit Sharma has been under immense pressure to perform in international cricket. Notably, he led India to victory in the 2025 Champions Trophy. However, Shubman Gill was named as captain ahead of the Australia series, and Rohit’s place in the 2027 World Cup squad remains uncertain.

Rohit started slowly in the first ODI, beaten by the extra bounce from the Perth pitch. This has increased the scrutiny on him and highlighted the need to make the most of every opportunity.

To secure his spot for the marquee 50-over event, Rohit must score consistently and make impactful contributions in the remaining matches. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts his approach in the next two games of the series.

Also read: Tushar Deshpande suffers a tragic Bronchitis Attack in Ranji Trophy match