As of now, Shoaib Akhtar has the world record of the fastest ball in international cricket when he went after England’s Nick Knight with a 161.3 kph delivery during the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. But if the images are to be believed from the broadcaster’s graphic, then Australia’s Mitchell Starc broke the record comfortably during the opening ODI against India at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

On the first ball of the three-match series, Starc hurled it short to Rohit Sharma, who was back in the Indian side since the final of the Champions Trophy 2025 against New Zealand. The batter pushed it down the ground and came for a quick single to open the account.

See Also: [WATCH] Shreyas Iyer’s short ball issue continues with another failure during AUS vs IND 1st ODI

However, the speed gun graphic displayed a staggering 176.5 kph or 109 mph, which was clearly a mistake. They cleared it up later as the graphics confirmed it was actually 140.8 kph or just over 87 mph, which was near to what Starc bowls at in the format.

Watch: Mitchell Starc’s 176 kph opening delivery to Rohit Sharma during AUS vs IND 1st ODI in Perth

It would be super human to bowl at that pace. Even for a batter, it wouldn’t be possible to come close playing the ball. The former captain of the ODI side of the Indian team, however, looked quite comfortable in guiding the delivery into the leg side. There were biomechanics where in the net session, they bowl at that pace, but it’s not easy for any bowler to repeat the feat.

Hey @JioHotstar, is it just a glitch or did Starcy just make a world record? @StarSportsIndia @FoxCricket @kayosports #AUSvIND #MitchellStarc pic.twitter.com/JTFwuFbrUn

— Ashutosh (@iAshu21) October 19, 2025

India lost Rohit juts a few overs later as he got an outside edge into the hands of the slip fielder against Josh Hazlewood. Starc, on the other hand, sent back Virat Kohli for an eight-ball duck as the batter went for the drive away from his body and found the backward point fielder.

Shubman Gill, the newly appointed captain, also got back to the dressing room. Shreyas Iyer also experienced the same fortune after the two-hour rain break, as India found themselves 52/4 in 16.4 overs.

With the dismissal of Rohit Sharma during the first ODI of the three-match series between India and Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth, the noise in the middle increased with the arrival of Virat Kohli, who had been playing his first competitive cricket in more than six months since the end of the IPL 2025 for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). 

There were concerns about whether Kohli would be able to get the same form and sharpness of his bat, staying away from the game for a long time. But before the start of the game, he revealed how he had been in good shape in the physical fitness and batting in the net session. He also informed that he hadn’t had any concern due to his incredible game awareness. Kohli was back in the Indian side along with Rohit Sharma. 

See Also: [WATCH] Josh Hazlewood sends back struggling Rohit Sharma during AUS vs IND 1st ODI in Perth

But his comeback for the national side wasn’t a memorable one. On his eighth ball, yet to open the account, Kohli chased the big drive away from his body. The thick outside edge flew to the point region where Cooper Connolly dived to his left to grab a fine catch and sent the veteran back in the hut.

Watch: Virat Kohli dismissed for an eight-ball duck during AUS vs IND 1st ODI

On his first ball of the innings, Kohli got rapped into the pads for one against Josh Hazlewood before he faced Mitchell Starc for a maiden. The left-arm pacer pushed the right-handed batter on the back foot with a short ball before pitching it up away from the stumps. Kohli, as he usually does, went for a booming drive and almost edged it to the slip region.

VIRAT KOHLI GONE FOR A DUCK!#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/cg9GbcMRAE

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 19, 2025

The Delhi batter missed the good timing of the bat. Moreover, given that he was on a duck for a long time, there was a different desire to break free and open the account. It was an excellent catch at the point region from Connolly.

India had already lost Rohit Sharma before Kohli’s dismissal. And Shubman Gill, the newly appointed captain, followed the two former leaders back in the hut as the tourists found themselves struggling at 25/3 in the ninth over before the rain stopped the proceedings.

Australia pacer Mitchell Starc can be released by Delhi Capitals ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, as it was reported. Furthermore, there are multiple claims, indicating multiple IPL franchises can show interest in the star pacer, including Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

According to the latest claims on social media, LSG owner Sanjeev Goenka has a deep interest in the speed star, and he can take a vital role in deciding Starc's IPL future. Other than LSG, several other clubs may have interest in bringing in the fast bowler. 

Media reports suggested that Delhi Capitals is all set to release Mitchell Starc. Last season, his performance was not enough to match the expectations of him. There were instances of his bowling brilliance, but that was not in a consistent manner. Expectations were naturally high for a world-class bowler like him. In 11 IPL 2025 matches for Delhi Capitals, he took 14 wickets at an expensive economy rate of 10.16, which clearly did not live up to the expectations. 

Read More: [WATCH] IND vs WI 2nd Test: Jaffa from Jasprit Bumrah takes Khary Pierre's off-stump for cartwheel

Mitchell Starc can join Delhi Capitals for IPL 2026

Delhi Capitals started off the IPL 2025 strongly but soon struggled to maintain the momentum. They were one of the favorites to qualify for the round of four as well. But because of the lack of consistency, they were unable to get a ticket to the next round. DC concluded the season as the 5th team of the points table with 7 wins in 14 matches. 

On the other side, Lucknow Super Giants built a strong, well-rounded team on paper. Because of the multiple injury crisis, they lacked in their bowling department. They managed to register only 6 wins in 14 matches and finished the season as the seventh team of the points table. Apart from repeated setbacks in back-to-back seasons, they have enough reason to spend a big chunk of money for a proven bowler like Mitchell Starc.

The left-arm Australia fast bowler, Mitchell Starc, has recently announced his T20I retirement to keep him fresh for the ODIs and the Tests, as he plans for the upcoming Ashes 2025/26 and the ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. But there is speculation whether he would feature in the IPL 2026.

Across the formats, Starc is the third leading wicket-taker for Australia with 725 wickets in 384 innings at an average of 35.45 and a strike rate of 37.32 with an economy rate of just over nine. He has already enjoyed 25 five-wicket hauls and focuses much more on the 50-over format ahead.

See Also: Dinesh Karthik ditches former RCB spinner to name his all-time India T20I XI

“For lack of a better term, I want to milk my body as much as I can for as much Test cricket as possible. That was never going to be off the table. I just felt like one of the other had to give. I feel like I've got plenty to offer the ODI team and with that goal of getting my body to 2027 - but also being good enough to be in that team for the World Cup in 2027.” Starc was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

Mitchell Starc provides future update after announcing his T20I retirement

If Starc features in the 2027 World Cup, he could end up being the greatest World Cup bowler of all time. His 65 wickets in 28 innings came at an average of under 20 at an economy rate of 5.15 and a strike rate of 22.44, with the best figures of 6/28 in an inning.

“I umm-ed and ahh-ed about which was the right (format) to put to the side. If I wasn't going to be in the frame for 2027, then I didn't want to hold up the spot. I still feel like I've got plenty to offer that ODI team. I'd thought about it for a while. I feel like it was probably a good time.” The New South Wales pacer addressed.

“The three one-dayer (against India) are a nice, controlled lead-in to five Test matches, 10 overs a game, time on the legs, they're not a day after each other. Some Shield games can be added to that schedule. (But) I think it's important not to have a concrete way of thinking.” Starc concluded.

Australian pace bowling stalwart Mitchell Starc has announced his decision to retire from the T20I format in a bid to manage his workload ahead of a demanding Ashes Test series, which starts later this year. The 35-year-old speedster further backed his decision to retire from this format by stressing his desire to keep himself fresh and rejuvenated for the all-important 2027 ODI World Cup. 

Although no one saw his retirement coming, the cricketing world was certainly left in a state of disbelief after hearing this unfortunate development. For over a decade, Starc has been a reliable all-format specialist bowler for Australia. The lethal paceman scripted match-winning performances for his national side in crunch matches. His ability to swing the ball at pace, followed by his tendency to trouble the batters with his sharp bouncers, made him one of the most feared bowlers in all formats of the game.

While we may no longer see Strac in action in the shortest format, it is time for us to revisit his glorious T20I past. 

See also: Australia face massive blow as star player ruled out of T20I and ODI series against India

A brief roundup of Mitchell Starc's glorious T20I record

The NSW-born pacer is Australia's second-highest wicket taker in the T20I format. Starc made his T20I debut against Pakistan in the year 2012. Although he managed to pick just a solitary wicket, the charismatic pacer left an immediate impact by giving away just 17 runs in his four overs. In 65 T20Is, Starc has registered 79 scalps at a remarkable average of 23.81. While he has demonstrated his appetite to pick wickets consistently, Starc also maintained a very impressive economy rate of 7.73 RPO. His figures of 4-20 against the West Indies remain his best-recorded bowling figures in the shortest format. 

A total of 30 out of the 79 dismissals came against Pakistan & Sri Lanka. The pacer claimed 15 wickets apiece against the two teams. Moreover, he was also a thorn in the side of the West Indies, averaging 25.07 with 14 wickets against them. He also fared well against India too, taking seven wickets at an average of 24. Barring Scotland, Starc has managed to pick a wicket against every nation he has played. His only weak link in his overall T20I career was his performance against the BlackCaps, against whom he averaged a shocking 155 with only one wicket to his name.

Starc's final appearance for Australia in this format came against India in the T20 World Cup 2024. The speedster was a part of the 2021 T20 World Cup-winning squad and also represented his national squad successfully in the 2014, 2016, and 2022 T20 World Cups.

The experienced left-arm pacer for Australia, Mitchell Starc, has decided to call it a time from the shortest format of the game to prioritize the heavy Test schedule next year and the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup. The 35-year-old last featured in the format during the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and was part of the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE. 

Starc is the second leading wicket-taker for Australia in the shortest format of the game. The New South Wales bowler has picked up 79 wickets in 65 innings at an average of under 24 and a strike rate of 18.45 with an economy rate of 7.74, thanks to his best bowling figures of 4/20 in an inning.

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“Test cricket is and has always been my highest priority. I have loved every minute of every T20 game I have played for Australia, particularly the 2021 World Cup, not just because we won but the incredible group and the fun along the way.” Starc expressed his thoughts on his T20I retirement for Australia.

Mitchell Starc announces T20I retirement for Australia due to heavy Test schedule

From the middle of 2026, the current WTC runners-up will face a hectic schedule with a home Test series against Bangladesh at home before a tour of South Africa and a four-match red-ball series against New Zealand, and another five Tests away in India in January 2027, followed by the one-off 150th anniversary against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and then an away Ashes 2027.

“Looking ahead to an away Indian Test tour, the Ashes and an ODI World Cup in 2027, I feel this is my best way forward to remain fresh, fit and at my best for those campaigns. It also gives the bowling group time to prepare for the T20 World Cup in the matches leading into that tournament.” Starc addressed the decision.

“Mitch should be incredibly proud of his T20 career for Australia. He was an integral member of the 2021 World Cup-winning side and, as across all his cricket, had a great skill for blowing games open with his wicket-taking ability.” The chairman of the selectors for Australia, George Bailey, reckoned.  

The cricket world is full of great fast bowlers right now, especially in Test cricket. Although former players like Kevin Pietersen think the current bowlers are less effective than those from the past, this is a personal opinion. Since playing conditions and styles have changed a lot over the years, it is not fair to say the current players are worse than the older ones.

No matter how the game changes, fast bowlers will always be important in the team. They can make a big impact with the new ball, rough up the old ball for the spinners, and use reverse swing. These are just some reasons why fast bowlers are necessary and cannot be left out. With that said, let’s rank the world’s 10 best Test bowlers after the ENG vs IND 2025 series.

10. Marco Jansen 

Marco Jansen from South Africa is a true all-round player. He can bowl fast, with good bounce and swing. He can also score important runs in the lower-middle order. The tall left-handed pacer is strong with the ball because he gets pace and bounce. He can also hit the ball well, making him a threat as a batsman. Jansen made his Test debut against India in the Boxing Day Test in 2021. He was the first player born in the 2000s to play for South Africa. Jansen made a big impact by taking 7 wickets for just 13 runs. He has the best bowling figures by a pacer in World Test Championship (WTC) history.

In Test cricket, he has bowled 488.1 overs and given away 1696 runs. He has taken 77 wickets with an average of 22.03. He has taken five wickets in an innings three times and ten wickets in a match once. His best bowling in an innings is 7 wickets for 13 runs, and his best in a match is 11 wickets for 86 runs. His economy rate is 3.47, and his strike rate is 38.04.

09. Jayden Seales

Seales is one of the few good players for the West Indies during a tough time in Test cricket. The right-arm fast bowler has been one of the best for his team since he came back in 2024 after being away for two years. He played very well in the England tour in 2024, taking 13 wickets in three Tests. He was the top wicket-taker for the visitors, with an average of 27.23.

Since then, Seales has been very consistent. He took his best six wickets in one innings against South Africa and performed very well against Bangladesh. He was also the joint second-highest wicket-taker for West Indies in their 0-3 loss against Australia at home. After that, he moved up to 11th place in the rankings.

08.  Matt Henry

Matt Henry is now the main bowler for New Zealand after playing a supporting role for many years. With a good mix of experience and skill, he finished the last WTC cycle as the eighth-highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers. The right-arm bowler recently took 16 wickets in the 2-0 series win against Zimbabwe, which helped him reach fourth place in the ICC Test Rankings for bowlers. He played a big part in New Zealand’s famous 3-0 win against India in spin-friendly conditions. Before that, he also had an important series against Australia at home.

07. Gus Atkinson

The right-arm pacer showed how much England missed him during most of the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar series by taking eight wickets after returning from injury. Atkinson’s role in red-ball cricket became very important for England after James Anderson and Stuart Broad retired. He made a big impact right away, taking ten wickets on his debut at Lord’s. He finished the 2024 home series against the West Indies as the top wicket-taker with 22 wickets. Atkinson kept playing well during the rest of the home season and stayed consistent in away games in Pakistan and New Zealand. The England pacer is now ranked 11th in the world and is expected to play an important role in the upcoming 2025-26 Ashes series.

06. Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj is the man of the moment. People talk a lot about his workload, but what matters most is his skill. The right-arm pacer has quickly risen in red-ball cricket and is now the main bowler for India during a time of change. Siraj has worked hard on his skills and has become a big threat to opponents. Taking more than 20 wickets in Australia and England in back-to-back series helped him reach a career-best 15th place in the rankings, and he will likely go higher.

05.  Mitchell Starc

The experienced left-arm bowler took wickets easily in the recent three-match series against the West Indies in the Caribbean. He was the top wicket-taker for Australia with 15 wickets, including an amazing 6 for 9 that helped bowl out the West Indies for just 27 runs. Starc, who recently played his 100th Test, showed he is still one of the best fast bowlers in the world. His pace, power, and skill have not dropped, and he remains one of the top pacers today.

04. Josh Hazlewood

Despite injuries, Josh Hazlewood has stayed in the top five of the ICC Test Rankings. When fit, he always returns to the team. The right-arm bowler is known for bowling in the right spot and getting good bounce, which troubles many teams, especially in Australia. He had a quiet Border-Gavaskar series and WTC Final, but he is still a strong threat. Hazlewood will be one of the biggest dangers to England in the upcoming Ashes.

03. Kagiso Rabada

Rabada is the main bowler for South Africa and one of the best fast bowlers today. His historic nine-wicket haul at Lord’s helped South Africa win the mace, putting his name among the greats. He bowls with real pace and strong intensity, along with great skill. Rabada is now the world’s second-ranked bowler after his great performance in the WTC Final. South Africa will rely on him to play well again to keep their title.

02. Pat Cummins

The Australian captain fought a great battle against Rabada in the WTC Final. Both showed they are two of the best bowlers, with almost no difference between them. After Rabada took five wickets in the first innings, Cummins answered with six wickets of his own. He also played well against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and was the leading wicket-taker in the 2023-25 WTC cycle.

01.  Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah is rightly the No. 1 bowler in the world and is in a class of his own. Although people talk about his workload, it does not take away from what he has done and will do. In recent years, Bumrah has become a new, better version of himself, performing at his best in all conditions. In the last WTC cycle, he took 77 wickets in 15 matches with an amazing average of just 15.06.

Despite repeated injury threats, India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been constantly making record after record in the international arena. In a recently surfaced list of records, Bumrah again grabbed the top spot of the chart, placing himself far away from a few other active star bowlers on the planet.

According to the stat list for the bowlers who delivered the most in international cricket in 2024, the India speed star is in first place. While another India pacer, Mohammed Siraj, is in the second spot of the ladder. In the previous year, Bumrah successfully completed 516 overs, and Siraj performed in 498 overs. After Bumrah and Siraj, it was Australia's Mitchell Starc who registered his name in the third spot with 481 overs. The fourth place went to Alzarii Joseph, another modern-era effective fast bowler. The West Indies international, in 2024, covered a total of 468 overs. 

Last year, Bumrah remained in the headlines constantly. The pacer from Mumbai remained as a key figure of Indian cricket. With the combination of skills and passion for the game, the right-handed player is more lethal. When India was in trouble against Australia during the Border Gavaskar Trophy, he emerged as the constant figure who delivered the most on the field.

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Due to excessive pressure, he got himself injured and went out from international duties for a long period of time. In the Brisbane and Melbourne Tests, the pacer bagged a total of 18 wickets, 9 wickets from each match, and got 8 wickets in the Perth Test, 2024. 

Fast bowlers with the most overs in 2024:

• Jasprit Bumrah (India): 516 Overs
• Mohammed Siraj (India): 498 Overs
• Mitchell Starc (Australia): 481 Overs
• Alzarri Joseph (West Indies): 468 Overs

Since the left-arm premier pacer of Australia, Mitchell Starc, completed 400 Test wickets during the third Test of the recently finished West Indies-Australia series at the Sabina Park in Jamaica, talks have started to grow on his comparison on the premier Indian pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, who has been equally fantastic across formats. Both have the ability to pick up wickets at any stage of the game.

The Ahmedabad-born, Jasprit Bumrah, has picked up 217 wickets with the red-ball in 90 innings at an average of under 20, while in the ODIs, he has grabbed 149 scalps in 88 innings at an average of nearly 24. In the shortest format, Bumrah has earned 89 wickets in 69 innings. Starc, on the other hand, has recorded 402 red-ball scalps in 192 innings, 244 ODI wickets and 79 T20I scalps.

Let’s take a look at the comparison between Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Starc across formats.

Bumrah and Starc stay on the same T20I league

It’s incredibly hard to break down the stats in various points of the T20 game between the players. Both can swing the new ball and has the skill of drying the runs inside the first six overs, while they can also use the firing yorkers and slower balls to fox the batters in the death overs. Here is a comparison between the two players’ T20 record.

This is where the actual picture comes out of how the India pacer has been clinical in the shortest format even with a huge number of the T20 games. When it comes to bowling with the new ball, Bumrah’s economy remains 6.45 while Starc gives away runs at 7.40. The former has picked up 65 wickets at a dismissal success of 32.82 while Starc has 68 scalps for the dismissal rate of 52.30. That’s another aspect of the batters not giving away wickets to the Gujarat bowler.

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For the death overs, Bumrah’s economy is under eight with 135 wickets in 182 innings, while even though, Starc has earned 85 wickets in 102 matches, his economy is well over nine. It’s simple that the Indian bowler will take a 1-0 lead over Star for being a complete force.

Mitchell Starc and Jasprit Bumrah’s Test comparison

When a comparison is to be made between Bumrah and Starc in the longest format, a fair amount of period is to be looked upon. Here is how both pacers performed in Tests since the start of 2021.

It can easily be seen that Bumrah has been more lethal with the ball, having an average of under 19. The lengths he bowls to the batters never allow them to score runs even when they stay longer in the crease. That’s different for Starc, who, looking to get some swing, do bowl half-volley time to time and leak runs.

On dry subcontinent pitches, Bumrah becomes a beast as he hardly gives the batters any chance to free their arms. That’s where his role becomes really crucial. The recent applause for Starc in the Caribbean is justified, but let’s not forget that the Indian pacer picked up a hat-trick in his same trip to the West Indies for the Test matches.

The only thing for the Sydney-born is that he is a special bowler, and whenever there is a need for the Australian side to pick up wickets to drag the game back in their court, more often than not, Starc will deliver.

Mitchell Starc and Jasprit Bumrah ODI stats comparison

The ODI stats are exactly how it was expected. Here is a table of how they have performed in the ODI since the start of 2021.

Starc has always picked up wickets and this 60 wickets in 31 matches suggests nearly two scalps per game. His average is nearly 25 with an economy rate of under six. For Bumrah, the equation is different with the Indian pacer picking 41 wickets in 22 games at the same rate but at a fair better average of under 19. His economy of 4.38 in this era is gold.

Looking at the stats, it can easily be said that Jasprit Bumrah is better than Mitchell Starc across formats, but the biggest plus point for the Sydney-born is how he has delivered when it has mattered the most, whether it’s the WTC final or the 50-over World Cup.

The third Test of the three-match series between the West Indies and Australia was full of entertainment and fuss around it as the players got into heated moments throughout the three days. The start of the two-part episode was when the right-arm pacer Jayden Seales charged up to Mitchell Starc after knocking his stumps down on the first evening of the day-night Test.

Seales, perhaps, wasn’t aware of the situation. He ran in hard and disturbed the stumps of the left-handed batter, Mitchell Starc, with a cracking yorker. The pacer stopped in the middle and pointed his arm towards the Australian dressing room as Starc left the field with a smile on his face. He was superb with the ball that evening, making it hard for the visiting batters.

See Also: [WATCH] Dinesh Karthik dissects why India lost the 3rd Test against England at Lord's

But Starc got the best chance to give it back during the third and what proved to be the last day of the series. The left-arm pacer started the second innings with a bang, having found the outside edge of John Campbell on the first ball of the defense. The last wicket was off Seales, who couldn’t handle the firing yorker, as Starc had a huge roar to the pacer, who had nothing to do but soak it in the end.

Watch: Mitchell Starc and Jayden Seales engaged in sledging during the WI vs AUS 3rd Test

Australia had already retained their Frank-Worrell Trophy, coming into the third fixture of the series at Sabina Park in Jamaica. In the first innings, the tourists got rolled over for just 225 runs on the board as none of the batters could reach a half-century. It wasn’t the sweetest performance ever from the home side with the bat.

stfu Jayden Seales, u don't sledge Mitchell Starc in the pink ball test, that's basic common sense 💀💀pic.twitter.com/AEnahAZAQK https://t.co/DaqAWXe7QW

— Debuu (SNation) (@They_callme_GG) July 14, 2025

The Roston Chase-led side got 143 runs in their first innings as only John Campbell crossed the 35-run mark. The rest of the line-up had no idea of how to face the touring pacers under the artificial lights. The ball kept swinging and nipping around in the air, making it incredibly hard for the batters.

Another inspiring performance with the ball, led by Alzarri Joseph’s five-wicket haul, saw the Aussies make only 121 runs in the second innings. But that was enough even only for the fourth innings as the Caribbean team blew away for just 27 with Starc enjoying a magical figure of 6/9 in the second innings of his 100th Test.