Cricket, a sport loved by millions around the globe, is a game of skill, strategy, and excitement. Among the many elements that make cricket exciting, fast bowling stands out as one of the most electrifying. Seeing a bowler charging in and delivering a ball at incredible speeds is definitely a sight to behold on a cricket field.

Pace bowlers, also known as speed guns or pace spearheads, bring excitement to the sport with their outrageous pace and accuracy.  Bowling fast is a skill, and it takes a lot of talent and months and years of practice to be effective at that speed. But who is fastest bowler in the world?

Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar bowled the fastest ball in cricket history at 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph) during the 2003 ICC World Cup against England. This record-breaking delivery is proof of Akhtar's explosive pace and power. Top contenders include Shaun Tait and Brett Lee, both reaching speeds of 161.1 km/h, making them some of the fastest recorded bowlers.

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Top 15 World's Fastest Bowlers in Cricket History 

Shoaib Akhtar, famously known as the "Rawalpindi Express," holds the record as the fastest bowler in cricket history. During a match against England in 2003, Akhtar delivered a ball that was clocked at 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph), making him the first bowler to break the 100 mph barrier officially. His unmatched pace and aggressive playing style made him a formidable opponent for any batsman.

Over the years, bowlers like Waqar Younis, Brett Lee, Allan Donald, and Shaun Tait have also surprised batsmen with their speed and accuracy throughout their careers. Currently, fast bowlers such as Australia's Mitchell Starc, New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson, South Africa's Kagiso Rabada, India's Jasprit Bumrah, and England's Jofra Archer continue to challenge batsmen with their express speed in world cricket.

All-time Fastest Deliveries in Cricket History (International)

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Australia's Shaun Tait, nicknamed "The Wild Thing," struck fear into batsmen with his remarkable pace. He recorded his fastest delivery at 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph) during a match against England in 2010.

Another Australian speedster, Brett Lee, was one of the most consistent fast bowlers of his generation. Known for his smooth run-up and explosive pace, he also recorded his fastest delivery at 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph) during a match against New Zealand in 2005.

Jeff Thomson, affectionately known as "Thommo," played for Australia in the 1970s. He was famous for his unconventional slinging action, which allowed him to generate tremendous speed. Thomson's fastest delivery was estimated to be around 160.6 km/h (99.8 mph), bowled in 1975 against the West Indies.

Mitchell Starc is recognized as one of the fastest bowlers in modern cricket. Not only is he known for his high speeds, but also for his ability to swing the ball. Starc's fastest delivery was clocked at 160.4 km/h (99.7 mph) during a Test match against New Zealand in 2015.

India's Fastest Bowlers

Hyderabad’s fast bowler Umran Malik holds the record for the fastest ball bowled by an Indian player. Umran constantly bowled at an average speed of around 150 km/hr, with many deliveries crossing the 150 mark during the Indian Premier League 2022 season. Umran Malik bowled a 157.0 kph (97.5 mph) delivery against Delhi to become the fastest Indian bowler. 

Mayank Yadav, playing for Lucknow, made headlines by bowling the second-fastest delivery by an Indian player. Mayank bowled a 156.7 kph (97.3 mph) delivery against Bengaluru during IPL 2024.

List of Fastest Indian Bowlers of All-time

Fastest Ball in IPL 2024

LSG's speedster Mayank Yadav delivered the fastest ball in IPL 2024. Bought for just 20 Lakhs by Lucknow in the auction, Mayank made his debut against and registered figures of 3/27. He bowled with pace and accuracy and was awarded the Player of the Match for his match-turning spell. He bowled at an average speed of around 148 km/hr, with many deliveries crossing the 150 mark. Mayank took 7 wickets in 4 matches before getting injured and missing the rest of the season.

Indian Bowler in the news: Mohammed Siraj, during a match against Australia, was in the searches of millions of people for delivering a ball at a speed of 181.6 km/h, which was later found out to be a technical glitch. But till now, no one has been able to bowl faster than all time fastest record holder Shoaib Akhtar. 

FAQ’s

Who is the fastest bowler in the world? 

Shoaib Akhtar bowled the fastest ball in cricket history at 161.3 km/hr (100.2 mph) during a 2003 World Cup match against England in Durban, South Africa. He is regarded as the best fast bowler in the world by any.

Has anyone ever bowled 100 mph?

Shoaib Akhtar, Shaun Tait and Brett Lee are the three bowlers to cross the 100 mph speed barrier in the history of cricket. Fellow Australians Jeffrey Thompson and Mitchell Starc came close with 99.8 and 99.7 mph deliveries respectively. 

Who is the Indian fastest bowler?

Umran Malik holds the record for the fastest ball ever bowled by an Indian bowler, reaching a scorching 157 km/hr during IPL 2022. Mayank Yadav comes second, clocking an impressive 156.7 km/hr during an IPL match in 2024. 

How fast is Jasprit Bumrah?

Jasprit Bumrah's fastest delivery is at 153.26 km/hr against Australia in 2018.