Two Indians in list of English commentators named for SA vs AUS WTC 2025 final

As many as 11 commentators will call the action on air when Australia take on South Africa in the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord's, starting on Wednesday, June 11. Expectedly, the panel comprises several former Australian and South African players such as Matthew Hayden, Melanie Jones, Graeme Smith, and Shaun Pollock.

However, there will be seven neutral commentators for the summit clash, with two Indians in Ravi Shastri and Dinesh Karthik in the panel. Nasser Hussain, Kevin Pietersen and Stuart Broad will be the English representations in the box, with Ian Smith and Ian Bishop rounding off the team for the English feed to work on the final.

Karthik made his ODI debut for India at Lord’s in 2004 and 17 years later, he debuted as a commentator during the 2021 WTC final between India and New Zealand at Southampton. It was at Lord’s where Ian Smith delivered his iconic “by the barest of margins” line to describe England’s win over New Zealand in the 2019 ODI World Cup final.

Graeme Smith led South Africa to the number one ranking in Test Cricket, with a win over England at Lord’s in 2012. Hussain played the 96th and final Test match of his career at this venue in 2004 while Shastri was India’s head coach when they beat England in a Test match at Lord’s in 2021.

Australia aim to win two WTC titles in a row as South Africa look to end title drought

Australia are current holders of the World Test Championship (WTC) mace, having beaten India in the final in 2023 WTC final at The Oval. The Pat Cummins-led side will look to win the mace for a second straight time in 2025.

Standing in their way to win the mace for a second consecutive time are South Africa, who have not won a global title since 1998 when they won the Knockout Trophy in Bangladesh.