In the first ODI match at Perth against India, Australia's pace bowler, Mitchell Starc, thrilled the crowd with an excellent opening spell that made the visitors' situation quite difficult at the beginning. Starc clearly made a powerful five-over attack with 5-1-20-1, totally changing the power balance in favour of Australia and leading to their victory over the team of Shubman Gill. Australia’s fast bowler had perfect control, besides swing and pace, which totally upset the Indian batters on an already lively Melbourne surface.

176.5 kmph delivery of Mitchell Starc sparks internet frenzy

Starc's getting rid of Kohli after just facing 8 balls was an important incident but the highlight of the match was defined by one delivery to Rohit Sharma. Starc after returning from injury started off with a ball to the Indian captain that was measured at a crazy 176.5 kmph — a speed that, if true, would have obliterated the previous records set in ODI cricket. The strange number instantly turned into a meme on social media, where people were making fun of a broken speed gun. Regardless of the mistake, Starc's bowling was really hot, all the time reaching 140–145 kmph area.

Rohit was in trouble as Starc's steep bounce and swing made it hard for him to find his rhythm. His frustration kept building as he was unable to score a run for quite some time. Eventually, the pressure got to him — in the fourth over, Josh Hazlewood took the wicket of Rohit who made 8 runs off 14 balls, getting him caught in the slips with an edge.

Starc's next victim was Kohli, whom he dismissed in the seventh over. The right-handed batsman, who was trying an unconventional opening stance, played a shot at a ball that was going across and was taken by Cooper Connolly at point. The fall of wickets did not stop when Shubman Gill was dismissed in the ninth over, he edged an off-side delivery to the wicketkeeper.

India was suffering badly at the end of the powerplay with a score of 27 for 3, their joint-worst start in ODI cricket since 2023, thanks to Starc and Australia’s relentless new-ball attack.