Former India player Aakash Chopra has applauded Mitchell Starc for his all-round show on Day 3 of the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final as well. He added that the Australian seamer raises his game in the final. However, Starc scored an unbeaten 58 off 136 deliveries to help Australia reach 207 in their second innings on Day 3 of the WTC final at Lord’s on Friday, June 13 as well. He then registered figures of 2/53 in nine overs as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “A word for Mitchell Starc, he scored a fifty. It was his 11th fifty. Just think about it, they were 73/7. If he hadn’t scored runs, this match would have been over by now. The mace would have already been with South Africa. However, he scored runs. After that, he picked up two wickets as well.”

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“The moment it comes to the final, Mitchell Starc becomes a different beast, and that is why he will go down as one of the greatest. The guy has the might. He suddenly raises his game and takes it to the next level in big matches. This just tells you that Mitchell Starc is a very, very special player,” he further added.

However, Aakash Chopra also stated that both sides’ bowling attacks, especially Australian bowlers, found it difficult to pick up wickets on Day 3 of the WTC final as well.

“In bowling, some issues were seen with both sides. 14 wickets fell on each of the first two days, but only four wickets fell on the third day. Australia were tested. The pitch has gotten slow, and that much reverse swing is not available. Maybe the saliva ban might become a point of discussion at some stage in the upcoming WTC cycle because when the pitch became slow, no might remained in the bowling. There were more expectations from Nathan Lyon. Some balls spun from the rough for sure, but Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram negated them well,” Aakash Chopra concluded.