176 km/h Delivery Shocks Fans — Did Mitchell Starc Break Shoaib Akhtar’s Speed Record?

ISLAMABAD: Cricket fans were left stunned when a delivery bowled by Australia’s Mitchell Starc during the first ODI against India was clocked at an astonishing **176.5 km/h**, raising questions about whether he had broken Shoaib Akhtar’s long-standing world record.

The first ODI between India and Australia saw India batting first, with Starc producing an impressive opening spell of five overs, conceding just 20 runs and taking the crucial wicket of **Virat Kohli** for a duck.

However, it was Starc’s very first delivery to **Rohit Sharma** that grabbed global attention — the speedometer showed it traveling at **176.5 km/h**, which would make it the fastest delivery in ODI history.

Cricket experts and fans quickly pointed out that the reading was the result of a **technical glitch**, as Starc typically bowls at speeds around **140 km/h**. Despite this, the moment went viral on social media, sparking humorous reactions and comparisons with Shoaib Akhtar’s record.

It’s worth noting that the **fastest legitimate delivery in cricket history** remains Shoaib Akhtar’s **161.6 km/h (100.23 mph)** thunderbolt against England during the 2003 World Cup — a record that still stands strong after **22 years**.