WTC final Archives

India’s WTC final hopes ‘extremely slim,’ says former cricketer

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has expressed serious doubts over the national team’s chances of reaching the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 final, following a crushing 0-2 series defeat to South Africa.

The Proteas sealed the series in Guwahati with a commanding 408-run victory, ending a 25-year wait for a Test series win on Indian soil and leaving India reeling on the points table.

The back-to-back defeats mark India’s fourth loss in the current WTC cycle, dropping them to fifth place with a points percentage of 48.15.

With just nine Tests remaining in the cycle, India are not scheduled to play another Test until they tour Sri Lanka in August 2026.

Their remaining fixtures include an away series in New Zealand and a five-Test home series against Australia in 2027.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra admitted that India’s qualification scenario looks bleak.

He highlighted the improbability of a 5-0 home sweep against Australia, which would be necessary to significantly boost India’s points tally.

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“We’re currently fifth in the WTC standings, and I don’t believe we’ll make it to the final. If we qualify, it will be a miracle,” Chopra said.

“We have an upcoming series against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, New Zealand in New Zealand, and then five Tests against Australia at home.

“Winning all five matches against Australia seems almost impossible. With less than 50 percent of the points, it’s not looking great for us.”

South Africa’s series triumph propelled them to second place with a points percentage of 75, while Australia continue to lead the table with a perfect 100 percent, having won all four of their matches.

Sri Lanka occupy third with 66.67 percent, followed by Pakistan at 50 percent.

India now face a steep challenge, needing to win the majority of their remaining fixtures just to have a realistic chance of making the WTC final in 2027.

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Travis Head urges Australia to ‘get back on the horse’ after WTC final heartbreak

Australia’s middle-order batter Travis Head has urged his team to move on from the loss against South Africa in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at the iconic Lord’s stadium.

Travis Head remained optimistic about Australia’s chances ahead of their new World Cup Test Championship campaign, which is set to commence on Wednesday with a three-match series against the West Indies.

“There’s added motivation to go out there and play well,” Head said ahead of the first Test in Barbados while admitting that Australia did not play according to expectations against the Proteas.

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The southpaw expressed confidence in his team’s chances in the upcoming WTC cycle, stressing the need to move on from the loss.

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“We’ve got two more years to build, and this is another first look at it, so I think if you dwell on it for too long or if you look back, you forget about what’s moving forward,” he said.

“Of course, we care and, of course, it’s not ideal. But at the end of the day you can’t change it. You have to move on. You have to get back on the horse,” Travis Head added.

It is noteworthy to mention that Australia will be without the services of ace batter Steve Smith, who is recovering from a finger injury in New York. In contrast, former No.1 Test-ranked batter Marnus Labuschagne has been axed from the squad due to a slump in form.

Travis Head is now the most experienced middle-order batter in the Test against the West Indies.

They [the pitches] spun a little bit here,” he recalled. “They were pretty slow, but I’ve heard different things, especially with the Dukes and what that brings,” Head said of West Indies pitches on the back of his experience in the Caribbean.

Australia Squad For West Indies Tests

Pat Cummins (c), Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Beau Webster, Mitchell Starc, Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Matt Kuhnemann

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Josh Hazlewood responds to Mitchell Johnson’s IPL criticism

Australian veteran pacer Josh Hazlewood has reacted to former speedster Mitchell Johnson’s comments about prioritizing the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final.

Following the conclusion of the WTC final, Mitchell Johnson launched a scathing attack on Hazlewood, criticizing the pacer’s fitness and his decision to participate in the IPL, which was temporarily suspended for a week due to rising India-Pakistan tensions.

“We’ve seen concerns about Hazlewood’s fitness in recent years, and his decision to prioritise returning to the delayed Indian Premier League over his national team preparations raised eyebrows,” Mitchell Johnson remarked.

Now, the veteran pacer has replied to Johnson’s comments, noting that the IPL was the best preparatory ground for the WTC final.

“I haven’t seen any of that, to be honest,” Josh Hazlewood said when asked about Mitchell Johnson’s criticism.

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“We know what’s going on inside our rooms. It seemed far and away the best place to get ready for any type of cricket that was coming up. The weather was definitely a factor as well. Just getting over there and playing intense competition like that, it’s hard to replicate in training,” he added.

Josh Hazlewood further emphasized the weather in Australia while stating that India was the best place to bowl under the circumstances.

“Sydney, it was raining and I had literally nowhere to bowl. I got to Brisbane for three or four days and it was very wet. We were lucky to get on. I just thought the best place to bowl was India,” he said.

“We were still in the competition, we were going to play semis, and I was going to be there for 10 days. I think it was comfortably the best option,” the right-arm pacer concluded.

For context, South Africa defeated Australia by five wickets in the WTC final, clinching their maiden title.

The defending champions’ bowling quartet could not rise to the occasion in the second essay while defending a 282-run target.

Josh Hazlewood, who was pivotal in the Royal Challengers Bangalore maiden IPL triumph, could only manage to claim two scalps in the all-important WTC final.

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‘He Was Broken’: Wiaan Mulder reveals chat with THIS Australian batter after WTC Final

South Africa all-rounder Wiaan Mulder has revealed an emotional chat with Australia’s explosive batter Travis Head after South Africa clinched the ICC World Championship (WTC) title at the iconic Lord’s cricket ground.

The Proteas ended their 27-year wait for an ICC title with a five-wicket win against the defending champions, Australia, in the WTC final.

Aiden Markram starred with the bat, scoring 136 runs in a vital partnership formed with skipper Temba Bavuma.

Wiaan Mulder, who was a teammate of Travis Head in the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) team during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, has discussed their conversation after the WTC final.

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“I actually spoke to him (Head) last night on the phone,” Mulder told ICC Digital. “He was happy for us and the way things went. Of course, he was heartbroken that they didn’t win, but I think the spirit of the game was as high and as good as it could be.”

Mulder hailed Aussies as true champions while praising Travis Head and Pat Cummins for their demeanour.

“When you think about the Aussies, you often think of them as being a bit aggressive at times, but these guys are true champions,” he said. “Heady is one of the nicest people around, and Patty (Pat Cummins) is also a great guy,” he said.

The right-handed all-rounder who did not play a single match in the IPL shared insights during his stint with SRH.

“I spent a lot of time with them during the IPL. There was a lot of friendly banter,” Mulder said.

It is noteworthy to mention that Wiaan Mulder was asked to bat at number three in the WTC despite not being a regular at this number. The 27-year-old scored six and 27 runs in the Test match; however, he got the prized wicket of Travis Head in Australia’s second innings.

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WATCH: Jay Shah trolled for repeated appearances in WTC Final Promo

The International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman, Jay Shah, has faced backlash over multiple appearances in the World Test Championship (WTC) final video.

In a 45-second video posted on social media, Jay Shah appeared multiple times. The video begins with a breathtaking shot of the iconic Lord’s Pavilion, then cuts to a slow-motion sequence of Jay Shah walking onto the ground.

The Indian administrator is also seen in conversation with ECB chair Richard Thompson, standing and applauding as he steals a sly glance at the camera, and congratulating South Africa’s current and past players.

Overall, Shah featured in 11 of the 23 shots used in the 45-second-long video.

Following the video release, Jay Shah was criticised heavily for his appearance in the WTC final promo.

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One of the critics wrote on a social media platform X: “If you blink at the wrong time, you’ll miss the only shot of Pat Cummins.” Another critic described his appearance as ‘beyond weird.

It is noteworthy to mention that South Africa sealed the WTC title after defeating the defending champions, Australia, by five wickets while chasing a challenging 282-run target here on Saturday.

South Africa were 213-2 at the start of day 4, needing only 69 runs to clinch the title. However, Mitchell Starc struck with the prized wicket of Temba Bavuma, who was removed after a well-made 65 despite struggling with an injury.

With only six runs needed to win, Kyle Verreynne joined Bedingham (21) and contributed four of those runs, including the winning run, thus ending South Africa’s ICC title drought.

Aiden Markram starred for South Africa in the second innings after a forgettable six-ball duck in the first innings. He scored a sublime 136 runs, while Kagiso Rabada was pivotal with the ball for the Proteas, taking nine wickets in the match.

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Pat Cummins hints at overhaul after WTC defeat

Australia captain Pat Cummins has indicated major changes in the team after the unsuccessful defence of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) against South Africa at Lord’s on Saturday.

Chasing 282 to win the 2025 final against Australia at Lord’s, South Africa broke their trophy jinx with a resounding five-wicket victory in the final on day four.

Aiden Markram starred with a magnificent fourth-innings hundred, taking his team home to a historic victory.

Following the defeat, questions arose regarding Australia’s top three, comprising Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, and makeshift opener Marnus Labuschagne. The trio contributed only 49 of Australia’s 419 runs, just over 10 per cent.

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After the defeat, Pat Cummins highlighted the performances, asserting that there needs to be more effort from some players.

“There’s probably quite a few people in the line-up that wish they could have done a little bit more,” Cummins told reporters. “The top three was an obvious one in this game.”

Ahead of the three-match series against West Indies, Pat Cummins said that the WTC cycle feels like a bit of a reset.

“I don’t particularly know why, but it does feel like a little bit of a fresh start,” he said.

“You fast forward, you know, a couple of years (and) you start maybe thinking about who’s going to – and hopefully we make the final – but who’s going to be in that team and maybe do we want to get some games into them? Do we feel like now’s the right time to change? Or do we hold with the team that got us to the final?

“I think we’ll kind of got a couple of weeks before the first Test in the Windies, so I think we’ll sit down and have a bit of a think after we digest this game. But for me, I think a new WTC cycle in some ways, does feel like a bit of a reset,” Pat Cummins concluded.

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Aiden Markram’s 136 steers South Africa to historic victory in WTC Final

LONDON: Aiden Markram played a defining 136-run knock in the fourth innings to steer South Africa to victory against Australia on the fourth day of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final here at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Saturday.

At the start of Day 4, South Africa were 213-2, needing 69 runs to clinch the title. Markram and captain Temba Bavuma resumed their innings with scores of 102 and 65 respectively.

Bavuma was able to add only one run to his score before being dismissed by his Australian counterpart, Pat Cummins, in the third over of the day.

Following this, Mitchell Starc removed Tristan Stubbs for 8 runs, giving Australia a glimmer of hope for a comeback.

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However, David Bedingham and Aiden Markram quickly extinguished that hope. The two added 35 runs for the fifth wicket, guiding the Proteas toward a historic victory.

Markram was eventually dismissed by Josh Hazlewood just inches away from victory, scoring a classy 136 runs off 207 balls, including 14 boundaries.

With only six runs needed to win, Kyle Verreynne joined Bedingham (21) and contributed four of those runs, including the winning run, thus ending South Africa’s ICC title drought.

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Aiden Markram joins elite club with stunning century in WTC Final at Lord’s

LONDON: South Africa’s Aiden Markram etched his name into the history books on Friday with a remarkable century in the fourth innings of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 against Australia at Lord’s.

After a forgettable six-ball duck in the first innings, Markram bounced back in style with an unbeaten 102* off 155 deliveries, a knock that not only revived South Africa’s chase but also placed him among an elite group of batters to score a century in a WTC final.

The Proteas opener now joins Australia’s Travis Head and Steve Smith in that exclusive list.

Head was the first to register a century in the WTC final — a match-winning 163 against India in 2023, followed by Smith’s gritty 121 in the same innings.

Batters to score a century in the WTC final

Travis Head (AUS): 163 vs India, 2023
Steve Smith (AUS): 121 vs India, 2023
Aiden Markram (SA): 102* vs Australia, 2025

Markram’s effort is particularly significant, considering the WTC Final at Lord’s is being played under high-pressure conditions and on a Day 3 pitch.

Notably, no batter managed a hundred in the inaugural WTC Final between India and New Zealand, with Devon Conway’s 54 being the highest individual score in that low-scoring contest.

This century also marks another milestone as Markram is now the first-ever South African to score a century in the fourth innings of a Test at Lord’s.

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He’s also the first overseas batter to hit a ton in the fourth innings at the iconic venue since Michael Clarke did it back in 2009.

With Aiden Markram standing tall and skipper Temba Bavuma providing solid support with a composed half-century, South Africa ended Day 3 in a dominant position.

They now need just 69 runs to win the WTC Final and end their ICC title drought that dates back to 1998.

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WTC Final: Steve Smith taken to hospital after copping nasty blow

LONDON: Australia star batter Steve Smith was rushed to the hospital after injuring his finger while fielding at slip on the third day of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final here at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Friday.

The incident occurred in the 20th over when South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma was squared up off Mithcel Starc’s delivery. The ball went towards first slip at chin-height towards Steve Smith, who was standing at a very unusual position with the helmet on.

Steve Smith stood in this position because of the too many edges not carried in the match. Following the injury, Smith immediately started to run off the field.

The right-handed batter eventually walked off with the physios, looking in serious pain.

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According to the latest reports, Cricket Australia (CA) has confirmed that Steven Smith has “suffered a compound dislocation of his right little finger.

“He was assessed by Australian team medical staff at the ground and taken to hospital for X-rays and further treatment,” the statement said.

At the time of filing this report, South Africa were 130-2, with 132 more required for WTC glory with eight wickets in hand.

Aiden Markaram 61* and Captain Temba Bavuma 33* kept South Africa afloat in a 282-run chase.

Earlier, the Proteas lost their opener, Ryan Rickelton (6), in only the second over. However, Markaram and Wiaan Mulder forged a 61-run partnership.

The duo’s stand steadied South Africa, but not before Mulder’s wicket fell, as he was caught driving to covers. Mitchell Starc took his second wicket, ending Mulder’s gritty knock of 29 runs, reducing South Africa to 70-2.

Meanwhile, Aiden Markram kept finding the gaps with ease and helped his team in the hunt in the WTC final at the stroke of tea.

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Here’s why players, umpires are wearing black armbands in WTC final

LONDON: Players from South Africa and Australia, along with umpires and officials, were seen wearing black armbands during the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground on Friday.

A day earlier, more than 200 people were killed in a devastating Ahmedabad plane crash when a London-bound Air India plane carrying 242 people crashed shortly after takeoff. The crash marked one of the worst disasters in a decade.

Before the start of play on day three of the WTC final, umpires, match officials, and players from both teams observed a one-minute silence, wearing black armbands in a demonstration of unity with the victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash.

Australia set South Africa 282 to win, after Mitchell Starc’s vigil 58* on the third day.

Australia started the proceedings on day three of their second innings with a score of 144 for 8, leading by 218 runs with Nathan Lyon (1) and Mitchell Starc (16) on the crease.

Australia began day three of their second innings with a score of 144 for 8, leading by 218 runs with Nathan Lyon (1) and Mitchell Starc (16) on the crease.

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It was the third over of the morning when South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada trapped Lyon lbw, who could only add one run to his overnight score.

With an early wicket, the Proteas could soon wrap up Australia’s innings; however, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood forged a vital 59-run partnership which took the title holders into a commanding position.

Starc was the lead aggressor, reaching his 11th Test half-century while Hazlewood held firm at one end. The duo frustrated South Africa, scoring at 3.13 in an over.

Both players helped Australia stretch the lead past the 250-run mark, making it an uphill task for South Africa’s batters in the WTC final.

The partnership was finally broken just before lunch as Hazlewood was caught off Aiden Markram’s bowling. He scored 17 off 53 deliveries while Starc remained unbeaten on 58* off 136 balls.

For South Africa, it was Kagiso Rabada again, taking four wickets while Lungi Ngidi chipped in with three wickets.

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