Former India player turned commentator Aakash Chopra has questioned South Africa for opting to bowl first in the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final. He called it as a defensive move and added that the Proteas will have the arduous task of chasing a huge target in the fourth innings. However, South Africa bowled Australia out for 212 after asking them to bat first on Day 1 of the WTC final at Lord’s as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “When you decided to bowl first after winning the toss, I felt it was a slightly defensive decision because batting fourth is very, very tough. So you should bat first. Of course, the conditions will be difficult, but you challenge yourself when you bat first.”

“It wasn’t a pitch that had so much green grass that you would close your eyes and bowl first because you wouldn’t have played a spinner and instead filled your team with only fast bowlers if it was a pitch like that, as you would know that the match would be over in two-and-a-half days. This wasn’t that kind of a surface. I thought that was a defensive move,” he further added.

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However, Aakash Chopra also criticized South Africa’s batting, saying that apart from losing wickets, they didn’t show any intent to score runs so far as well.

“Australia were bowled out for 212, but South Africa’s batting was absolutely ordinary. First Aiden Markram and then Ryan Rickelton. Temba Bavuma is still playing, but he is not scoring runs. He is playing extremely slow. Wiaan Mulder and then Tristan Stubbs, it wasn’t enjoyable,” he said.

“Four wickets have fallen. South Africa’s catching was outstanding, bowling was decent, Lungi Ngidi was disappointing, but Australia are way ahead in the match. Since South Africa have to bat in the fourth innings, if they don’t score close to 300 runs in this innings, they will not be in the game at all,” Aakash Chopra concluded.