The ICC World Cup 2023 gave cricket fans plenty to cheer about with fiery fast bowling that left batsmen struggling and kept fans on the edge of their seats. From October to November 2023, India organised the event across its famous stadiums where speedsters pushed their limits and wowed the crowd with their power and pace.
Mark Wood stood out as the top fast bowler, firing a blazing delivery at 155 kph (96.3 mph). It was the fastest ball of the tournament. This list highlights the top 10 quickest bowlers of the World Cup. It uses verified speed gun data and focuses on the game-changing moments their incredible pace created.
Top 10 Fastest Deliveries: Complete Speed Ranking
| Rank | Bowler Name | Country | Speed (kph) | Speed (mph) |
| 1 | Mark Wood | England | 155 | 96.3 |
| 2 | Haris Rauf | Pakistan | 154 | 95.6 |
| 3 | Lockie Ferguson | New Zealand | 153 | 95 |
| 4 | Gerald Coetzee | South Africa | 149 | 92.5 |
| 5 | Mitchell Starc | Australia | 148 | 91.9 |
| 6 | Mohammad Siraj | India | 145.4 | 90.3 |
| 7 | Matheesha Pathirana | Sri Lanka | 145 | 90 |
| 8 | Marco Jansen | South Africa | 144.6 | 89.8 |
| 9 | Lungi Ngidi | South Africa | 144.5 | 89.7 |
| 10 | Jasprit Bumrah | India | 144.4 | 89.7 |
1. Mark Wood (England) – 155 kph
Mark Wood fired a 155 kph rocket during England’s group stage game against South Africa at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. He bowled this lightning-quick delivery in the 12th over, aiming it at Reeza Hendricks with blazing speed and sharp bounce off the pitch.
Using pure speed, Wood unleashed a ball so fast and bouncy that Hendricks had no choice but to defend. Throughout the tournament, Wood bowled 23 deliveries that topped 150 kph. His unique slinging arm action and aggressive follow-through created tough angles. This made it hard for even the best batsmen to handle, solidifying his position as one of cricket’s top fast bowlers.
2. Haris Rauf (Pakistan) – 154 kph
Haris Rauf clocked a 154 kph thunderbolt against Australia during a tough run chase at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The ball, tracked at 95.6 mph, highlighted his skill at producing incredible speed from a smooth and steady approach.
Rauf’s fast bowling rattled the middle order and took three wickets during that game. His pace stayed above 150 kph, making him Pakistan’s main strike bowler. However, despite taking wickets, his costly overs sometimes reduced the overall impact he had.
The Pakistani pacer used his athletic build and smooth bowling action to keep his extreme speed throughout entire spells.
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3. Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand) – 153 kph
Lockie Ferguson clocked his quickest delivery at 153 kph during New Zealand’s group stage match against Bangladesh at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on October 13, 2023. He paired his raw pace with a tricky bounce. The New Zealand pacer’s snappy arm movement and solid wrist control caused a sharp rise in the ball, leaving batsmen off guard.
Ferguson snagged three wickets for 49 runs in the match and kept bowling at speeds above 145 kph. He threw fast bouncers and pinpoint yorkers, making him New Zealand’s deadliest bowler. His 153 kph ball showed off his aggressive approach, aiming to take wickets rather than save runs.
4. Gerald Coetzee (South Africa) – 149 kph
Gerald Coetzee’s 149 kph rocket against Sri Lanka at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi during South Africa’s opening group stage match marked his arrival as the Proteas’ rising fast-bowling star. The young pacer showcased his raw speed, which supported South Africa’s seasoned bowling lineup.
Coetzee’s fierce tactics brought him 10 wickets in the tournament. His raw speed shook up the top-order batsmen. He bowled sharp bouncers and full, lightning-fast balls that crossed 149 kph several times. The speed readings showed he is a true pace bowler who can maintain high speeds over long spells.
5. Mitchell Starc (Australia) – 148 kph
Mitchell Starc clocked 148 kph during the semi-final against South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 16, 2023. His left-arm angle and blazing speed wrecked the opposition. The Australian star combined pace with a deadly swing, making him the most well-rounded fast bowler of the tournament.
Starc took 16 wickets with an average of 19.31. His speed reduced scoring chances for batters. His 148 kph lightning-fast deliveries swung late and troubled batsmen even on slower pitches, demonstrating how sheer pace can lead to wickets in crucial knockout matches.
6. Mohammad Siraj (India) – 145.4 kph
Mohammad Siraj bowled a 145.4 kph ball against Sri Lanka, highlighting India’s rise in fast bowling. The pacer from Hyderabad used intense speed along with precise seam placement and tight line control.
Siraj picked up speed during the powerplay where his fiery bowling got him seven wickets in the tournament. He bowled at speeds over 140 kph, giving India a reliable fast-bowling choice seen in subcontinental cricket. A top speed of 145.4 kph showed how much he had grown into a proper pace bowler.
7. Matheesha Pathirana (Sri Lanka) – 145 kph
Matheesha Pathirana bowled a 145 kph delivery against Australia using a slingy action that brought Lasith Malinga to mind. The young Sri Lankan hit this fast pace at Wankhede Stadium, where his low-arm release and raw speed caused problems for batsmen.
Pathirana brought impressive speed to Sri Lanka’s bowling, which is known for being dominated by spinners. His knack for delivering precise yorkers at 145 kph turned him into a valuable weapon during the death overs. Despite this, his World Cup outings didn’t leave as much of a mark on the larger stage.
8. Marco Jansen (South Africa) – 144.6 kph
Marco Jansen threw a 144.6 kph ball during South Africa’s game against New Zealand in the group stage. This happened at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on November 1, 2023. At 2.06 meters tall, Jansen mixed fast speed with high bounce, which gave batsmen on the other team a hard time.
He took three wickets for 31 runs in the match, giving away less than four runs per over. Jansen kept speeds over 144 kph while focusing on full, attacking deliveries, making him South Africa’s most improved bowler. His fast pace and skill with the bat cemented him as a modern-day fast-bowling all-rounder.
9. Lungi Ngidi (South Africa) – 144.5 kph
Lungi Ngidi’s 144.5 kph delivery came during South Africa’s group stage match against Bangladesh at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on October 24, 2023. The tall South African pacer reached this velocity with his bounce and pace unsettling the middle-order batsmen.
Ngidi picked up eight wickets during the tournament, maintaining speeds between 140 and 144 kph. He bowled fast, short balls and full deliveries, adding variety to South Africa’s attack. His 144.5 kph delivery showed he could deliver a reliable pace in major championships.
10. Jasprit Bumrah (India) – 144.4 kph
Jasprit Bumrah hit 144.4 kph with his delivery when India played Pakistan in the group stage at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 14, 2023. This surprised many, as people know him more for his ability to move the ball than for raw speed. His unusual hyperextended action helped him reach this pace, adding to his well-known off-cutters.
Bumrah threw the ball much faster than the batsmen thought he would have given his style. They expected speeds of 135-138 kph, so this caught them unprepared. His figures of 2 for 19 in the power play helped India win the match. This proved that bowlers who rely on skill can also bring out extreme speed when they need to.
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