I bowl faster than you: Starc, Harshit’s on-field banter on Day 2 of Perth Test

The on-field intensity of the first Test between Australia and India was momentarily punctuated by a light-hearted yet competitive exchange.

Between Mitchell Starc and debutant Harshit Rana on Day 2 at the Optus Stadium. Starc and Rana shared a light-hearted moment of on-field banter on Day 2 of the ongoing Perth Test, with the Australian pacer playfully reminding the Indian debutant that he bowls faster. The exchange came during a fiery spell from Rana, who had Starc ducking to evade a barrage of short balls.

The drama unfolded during the 30th over of Australia’s innings, with Rana delivering a fiery spell of short-pitched bowling that had Starc hopping to evade. As the Indian debutant walked back to his mark, the experienced Starc, caught on the stump microphone, cheekily reminded him who the faster bowler was. “Harshit, I bowl faster than you. I’ve got a long memory,” said Starc with a grin, hinting at the possibility of retribution when the Indian tailender comes to bat.

Rana, unfazed, responded with a smile, and the exchange added a touch of levity to an otherwise intense contest. The camaraderie between the two was underscored by their recent stint as teammates at the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where they celebrated a title-winning campaign earlier this year. Despite Starc’s jibes, Rana held his own, bowling with pace and extracting sharp bounce off the lively Perth wicket. He had earlier dismissed Nathan Lyon, following up his Day 1 scalp of Travis Head, showcasing remarkable composure for a debutant.

Meanwhile, the Indian pace attack led by Jasprit Bumrah continued to dominate. Bumrah, who began the day with four wickets, struck immediately to remove Alex Carey with his first delivery, completing a well-deserved five-wicket haul – his 11th in Test cricket. Mohammed Siraj and Rana provided excellent support, leaving the Australian batting lineup scrambling for answers.

By the end of the session, India had not only secured a significant first-innings lead but also demonstrated their pace prowess, with all three seamers regularly breaching the 140km/h mark.

The banter between Starc and Rana, however, captured the attention of fans, quickly going viral on social media. The light-hearted moment exemplified the spirit of cricket, where fierce competition on the field is often accompanied by mutual respect.