A surprising moment unfolded during the 25th over of Australia’s first innings in the Adelaide Test when Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj's delivery was clocked at an astonishing speed of 181.6 km/h on the speed gun. The delivery, which Marnus Labuschagne guided for a boundary through the backward point region, left cricket fans around the world in disbelief.

Such a reading would shatter the existing world record for the fastest ball ever bowled in cricket—161.3 km/h, set by Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar in the 2003 World Cup. Naturally, this sparked a wave of amazement, skepticism, and online banter.

Fans were quick to question the possibility of such an unprecedented feat. Upon further clarification, it was revealed that the speed gun had malfunctioned, resulting in the erroneous reading. The actual speed of the delivery was well within normal limits, leaving Akhtar’s long-standing record intact.

The incident quickly went viral on social media, with fans creating memes and sharing humorous takes on the anomaly. While Siraj couldn’t rewrite the record books, the buzz highlighted the unpredictable moments technology can bring to the game.

Shoaib Akhtar’s record-setting 161.3 km/h delivery, bowled against England during the 2003 World Cup in Cape Town, continues to stand as the fastest ball in cricket history.

In the ongoing Adelaide Test, India was bowled out for a modest 180 runs in their first innings. In response, Australia ended Day 1 at 86/1, trailing by 94 runs. A total of 11 wickets fell on the opening day, setting the stage for an intriguing Test match ahead.