Does the Lord's pitch for WTC Final 2025 deserve criticism? Aakash Chopra highlights the hypocrisy

Before welcoming opponents to host a red-ball series, the sub-continent braces for the almost certain row of criticism. The trend of the overseas fraternity taking offense at the sub-continent conditions in Test cricket, especially in India, has evolved into an unspoken rule. It's very essential on India's part to prepare pitches that assist both the bowlers and the batters. A slight incline towards either side specifically attracts accusations of tampering with the conditions to assist the home team. Interestingly, this trend of criticism is non-existent for SENA countries. The hypocrisy has reared its head again as Australia and South Africa fight for the Test mace in the WTC Final 2025 at Lord's.

Aakash Chopra takes aim at Western media as Lord's pitch for WTC Final 2025 acts up

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has voiced his displeasure over the lack of criticism directed at the pitch used for the WTC Final 2025. The surface at the iconic Lord's cricket ground for the summit clash between Australia and South Africa is assisting the pacers significantly. Day 1 and Day 2 of the all-important Test clash witnessed the fall of 14 wickets on both the days.

With as many as 28 wickets tumbling in just two days, Chopra found it surprising that the pitch hadn’t come under more intense scrutiny. Sharing his thoughts, the former Indian opener took a dig at the Western media, questioning their selective outrage. He pointed out that the same voices were quick to slam Indian pitches for being spin-friendly, often accusing India of ‘doctoring pitches’ and ‘killing Test cricket’.

"A big question I had about this Lord's Test match was that if these 28 wickets had fallen in India in two days' play, wouldn't the western media have created an uproar, as to what sort of pitch they play, the ball is turning and bouncing, batting has become very difficult, and how such pitches can be allowed, that India is doctoring pitches and killing Test cricket," Chopra said.

Day 1 of the WTC Final 2025 saw Australia getting bundled out for 212, before South Africa lost four quick wickets in response. On the second day, the pattern of collapse continued as the Proteas were dismissed for just 138, handing Australia a significant lead of 218 runs, with two wickets still in hand. Day 1 witnessed Kagiso Rabada scalping a fifer before Pat Cummins rattled the Proteas with a six-wicket haul on Day 2.

Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra also took aim at how English media tend to defend their own batters' struggles in home conditions. The Indian commentator highlighted how the English fraternity attribute the failures of their own batsmen to challenges of technique and temperament rather than pitch quality. He noted the absence of the same empathy when overseas teams, particularly India, face similar challenges abroad.

"You would have seen these headlines from The Telegraph to The Sydney Morning Herald, and you would have felt what you have done. However, when it happens in England, it's called a sporting pitch, where the batters' defensive technique has got spoilt as the ball is not moving that much. If the batters' defensive technique has been spoiled, it's valid in India as well," he added.

Indian tracks have long been under the microscope for allegedly giving the hosts a "clear edge." One notable case was the 2021 Ahmedabad Test, where England capitulated in two days, struggling against India’s spin attack. That match sparked outrage in some English quarters, with reports even claiming England’s management considered filing a formal protest. With the WTC Final 2025 entering a critical phase, attention now turns to how much influence the Lord’s surface will exert on the match’s outcome.