Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has opined that the pitch would have been criticized had 28 wickets fallen in the first two days’ play in India, as has happened in the World Test Championship (WTC) final as well. He also added that the Lord’s pitch will be termed a sporting surface as well. Notably, Australia and South Africa were bowled out for 212 and 138 in their respective first innings of the WTC final.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “A big question I had about this Lord’s Test match was that if these 28 wickets had fallen in India in two days’ play, wouldn’t the western media have created an uproar, as to what sort of pitch they play, the ball is turning and bouncing, batting has become very difficult, and how such pitches can be allowed, that India is doctoring pitches and killing Test cricket.”

“You would have seen these headlines from The Telegraph to The Sydney Morning Herald, and you would have felt what you have done. However, when it happens in England, it’s called a sporting pitch, that the batters’ defensive technique has gotten spoiled as the ball is not moving that much. If the batters’ defensive technique has gotten spoiled, it’s valid in India as well,” he further added.

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While talking about the state of the 2025 WTC final, Aakash Chopra added that Australia’s stunning record while defending 200-plus targets at Lord’s as well.

“Where is the match standing? The lead is more than 200 runs. Australia have never lost a match while defending more than 200 runs in the last innings at Lord’s. However, just because it hasn’t happened before today, it doesn’t mean it cannot happen now,” he said.

“Of course, it’s difficult, but the truth is that catches are not carrying to slip now. So you might be forced slightly to bowl within the stumps, and if you do that, the chances of runs getting scored increase. I think it’s 70-30 in favour of Australia. However, if South Africa show a little more fight in batting this time, we might be in for a history-creating Test match,” Aakash Chopra concluded.