Did Mitchell Starc just shatter the world record for the fastest ball ever bowled? For a wild moment during the first ODI against India in Perth, the speed gun flashed an unbelievable 176.5 km/h. But while that turned out to be a massive tech glitch, the real story of Starc’s dominance and India’s collapse is just as shocking.
Key Takeaways
- A speed gun error incorrectly clocked a Mitchell Starc delivery at 176.5 km/h, sparking brief record speculation.
- Starc dismissed Virat Kohli for his first-ever ODI duck on Australian soil in the Perth match on October 19.
- Kohli recorded consecutive ducks for the first time in his ODI career, falling for zero again in Adelaide on October 23.
- Australia has already won the three-match series 2-0, securing victories in both Perth and Adelaide.
The Record That Never Was
Look, it was the talk of the town. On October 19 in Perth, a delivery from Mitchell Starc lit up the screen with 176.5 km/h. Everyone lost their minds for a second. Could Shoaib Akhtar’s long-standing record finally be broken? The buzz was electric. But honestly, it didn’t last long.
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It was quickly confirmed as a simple technical error. A glitch in the machine. Starc’s actual fastest ball in that match was around a formidable, but not record-breaking, 145 km/h. So, the record books remain unchanged. But the incident perfectly set the stage for the drama that was about to unfold.
Starc’s Real Impact and Kohli’s Nightmare
Here’s the thing. You don’t need a faulty speed gun to see how devastating Starc was. In that same Perth match, he did something no one else had managed. He sent Virat Kohli back to the pavilion for a duck. This was Kohli’s first-ever ODI duck on Australian soil. A huge moment in the game.
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And the nightmare didn’t end there for India’s star batsman. Just four days later, in the second ODI in Adelaide on October 23, it happened again. This time it was Xavier Bartlett who dismissed him, but the result was the same. A golden duck. This marked the first time in Kohli’s entire ODI career that he’d been dismissed for consecutive ducks. Unbelievable, right?
How Australia Sealed the Series
While the spotlight was on Starc’s non-record and Kohli’s unwanted one, Australia was quietly and efficiently winning the series. They cruised to a seven-wicket victory in Perth, completely outplaying India. Starc was instrumental again in the second match in Adelaide, grabbing two key wickets, including the crucial dismissal of opener Rohit Sharma who was looking dangerous on 73.
That second match was a closer fight, but Australia held their nerve to clinch a two-wicket win. And just like that, they sealed the three-match ODI series with a 2-0 lead. The final match in Sydney is now a dead rubber, but pride is definitely on the line.
With Starc confirmed for the final ODI in Sydney on October 25, the big question is, can India bounce back to avoid a complete whitewash? Or will Australia’s dominance continue? Let us know what you think will happen!