A technical glitch during Day 1 of the Adelaide Test between India and Australia turned a tough session for the visitors into a mix of comedy and drama.
The malfunction caused Mohammed Siraj’s delivery to be clocked at an impossible 181.6 km/h, sparking a flurry of reactions from cricket fans on social media.
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This happened in the 24th over when Siraj bowled to Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne, and the speed gun registered an absurd speed, leading to widespread ridicule and the revival of the popular ‘DSP Siraj’ memes, offering a moment of humor in the midst of an intense match.
The day’s events weren’t just about technical glitches and online jokes. Australia’s opening batsman, Marnus Labuschagne, faced his own distractions when a fan near the sight screen created a beer snake, forcing him to step away from the crease.
This interruption led to a heated exchange between Siraj and Labuschagne, adding more drama to the match. The fiery moment lifted the spirits of Indian fans, who were already dealing with the tense atmosphere.
On the field, India’s first innings ended disappointingly with them being bowled out for just 180 runs. Nitish Kumar Reddy provided some resistance lower down the order, but Australia’s bowlers, particularly Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, dominated the innings.
India’s bowlers tried to respond, and Jasprit Bumrah made an impact by dismissing Usman Khawaja early, claiming his 50th Test wicket of 2024, joining Indian greats Kapil Dev and Zaheer Khan.
Australia ended the day at 86/1, with Labuschagne and Steve Smith solidifying their position, leaving India 94 runs behind. Despite the setback, India will aim to make a comeback on Day 2, with Siraj and Bumrah leading the charge. The match remains closely contested, with Australia slightly ahead but India still in the hunt. Siraj’s focus will now shift from the speed-gun mishap to accuracy and pace.
