Mohammed Siraj.
Credit: DH File Photo/SK Dinesh
Amid the fiery intensity and high-octane competitiveness between fierce cricketing rivals India and Australia at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a certain delivery by Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj during the ongoing second Test match of the series in Adelaide resulted in a rare light-hearted respite for cricket fans.
During the 25th over of Australia's firsts innings on the first day of the pink-ball Test, Siraj fired in a back-of-the-length delivery, which was hit for a boundary by Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne. However, the drama unfolded when - to the shock and amusement of everyone - the speed tracker showed Siraj clocking a near impossible 181.6 kmph.
This is over 20 kmph more than the fastest delivery ever recorded in the history of cricket, bowled by none other than Pakistani legend Shoaib Akhtar. Nicknamed the 'Rawalpindi Express' for his blistering pace, Akhtar clocked a whopping speed of 161.3 kph (100.23 mph) against England during the 2003 ICC World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa, which still holds the record in this regard.
Fans watching were quick to notice the glaring blunder displayed on TV screens after Siraj's delivery, which was possibly the result of a technical error. In no time, this snowballed into a meme-fest on the internet, with 'DSP Siraj' memes also doing the rounds.
Seeing the funny side of the glitch, an X user commented, "DSP Siraj bowled the fastest delivery in cricket 181.6 Km/H.. After Viv Richards, he is coming to eat Shoaib Akhtar's legacy."
"Mohammed Siraj clocked at 181.6 km/h that last ball. Tell me the beer snake didn’t fire him up," quipped another, referring to a fiery on-pitch altercation between Siraj and Labuschagne moments prior to this delivery.
Another fan remarked, "181.6 km/h.. Ladies and Gentlemen I present you the fastest bowler on the planet DSP Mohd Siraj."
Adding to the memes galore, one wrote, "Shoaib Akhtar, Brett Lee and Shaun Tait watching DSP Siraj bowling at 181.6 KM/H"