Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj is also a DSP. He assumed the role of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) for the Telangana State Police last October. However, since yesterday, social media has been buzzing about another identity of Siraj.
No, it’s not related to any police activity. Siraj is currently playing in the Adelaide Test against Australia. So, why is there so much chatter about “DSP Siraj”? The reason lies in a mistake by the speedometer during the match.
The incident occurred yesterday during Australia’s first innings. On the fifth ball of Siraj’s 25th over, Marnus Labuschagne cut it for a four. The speedometer astonishingly recorded the ball’s speed as 181.6 km/h!
Of course, this was a technical error, and the broadcasters quickly corrected it. But by then, screenshots of the mistake had already gone viral on social media. Siraj is known for bowling at a decent pace, usually around 140 km/h, nowhere near 150 km/h—let alone 181! Social media had a field day with the error, jokingly saying, “Even the speedometer is afraid of DSP Siraj.”
Many even shared photos of Siraj in his police uniform, humorously claiming, “Only DSP Siraj can bowl this fast.” Some even compared him to Pakistan’s legendary pacer Shoaib Akhtar.
The comparison is fitting since Shoaib Akhtar holds the record for the fastest delivery in international cricket. During the 2003 World Cup against England, Akhtar bowled a delivery clocking 161.3 km/h (100.2 mph).
After Shoaib, four Australians feature on the list of fastest bowlers. Brett Lee and Shaun Tait both bowled at a top speed of 161.1 km/h. Following them are Australian legends Jeff Thomson and Mitchell Starc, with speeds of 160.6 km/h and 160.4 km/h, respectively. Among these five, only Starc is still active, though his current bowling speed hovers around 145 km/h, making it unlikely he will reach his peak again.
Speedometer errors aren’t new. In 2021, during a Bangladesh-Pakistan match, the speed gun hilariously recorded Pakistani pacer Hasan Ali’s delivery at 219 km/h! At least Siraj’s reading stayed under 200 km/h!
