Former India opener and seasoned cricket analyst Aakash Chopra believes that both 2023–25 World Test Championship (WTC) finalists — Australia and South Africa — may find it tough to secure a spot in the 2027 final. Speaking on his YouTube channel after reviewing the newly announced 2025–27 WTC fixtures, Chopra highlighted that Australia, despite a dream start with a 3-0 away sweep over West Indies to top the table with 100 percentage points, still have a tricky road ahead.
Their home assignments include series against New Zealand, England, and Bangladesh. Chopra is confident they will beat Bangladesh comfortably and should edge past New Zealand. He even backs them to defeat England, but he cautions that the five-match Ashes battle may prevent them from bagging full points.
Looking at the away schedule, Aakash Chopra foresees trouble for Pat Cummins’ men in India. “They will leave India after losing the series. I see them winning just one Test there, which could cost them valuable points. South Africa will also give them a run for their money. It’s not going to be straightforward — they have a decent chance, but I won’t call them strong contenders,” Chopra explained.
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Turning to South Africa, Chopra was even more sceptical. The Proteas’ home season pits them against Australia, England, and Bangladesh, with the first two being formidable challenges. Their away assignments look even more daunting, with tours to India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
“All three away series are in the subcontinent, which has traditionally been tough for South Africa. I don’t think they’ll manage to win there, and even drawing could be a struggle,” he said.
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Summing up, Chopra predicted a possible miss for both finalists. “South Africa, in my opinion, might not qualify. There’s a real chance of them missing out,” he concluded.
With high-stakes fixtures and potential team transitions on the horizon, Chopra’s analysis suggests that both Australia and South Africa will need consistently top-class performances if they wish to challenge for the WTC crown again in 2027.
