Former India opener and now cricket analyst Aakash Chopra has voiced strong criticism against the perceived double standards of the Western media, particularly in how pitch conditions are reported and judged. His comments come in light of the bowling-friendly surface used for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 at Lord’s, London, which has seen 28 wickets tumble across just two days of play.

According to Chopra, had similar conditions existed in India, where the ball seemed, bounced inconsistently, and made life miserable for batters, the Western press would have quickly labelled it “unfit for Test cricket,” accusing India of pitch doctoring. Instead, with the match being played in England, such a surface is being praised as a “sporting wicket.”

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Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra pointed out: “If these 28 wickets had fallen on an Indian pitch within two days, headlines would scream about doctored pitches, poor batting conditions, and Test cricket’s demise. But when the same happens at Lord’s, it’s somehow commendable, a trial of batting technique.”

He further highlighted the hypocrisy in media narratives, stating: “When the ball spins in India, it’s a crime. But when it seams and bounces wildly in England, it’s a test of character and skill. You’d see stories from The Telegraph to The Sydney Morning Herald blaming Indian curators, but here it’s seen as pure cricketing challenge.”

The match itself remains delicately poised. Australia, who scored 212 in their first innings, currently lead by 218 runs in the third innings, with only two wickets in hand. Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon are holding the fort at the crease. South Africa, having bowled impressively, will aim to finish off the tail quickly and keep the target within reach to stay alive in the contest.

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Aakash Chopra signed off by reminding fans: “Australia have never lost a Test at Lord’s after setting a target of over 200, but just because it hasn’t happened before doesn’t mean it won’t today. Records are made to be broken.”

It’s a gripping WTC Final—and one that’s stirring debate both on and off the field.