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India Today
a day ago
- Sport
- India Today
South Africa may not reach WTC final 2027, Sri Lanka have better chance: Aakash Chopra
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that Sri Lanka have a better chance than defending champions South Africa of reaching the 2027 World Test Championship (WTC) final. The upcoming 2025-27 WTC cycle will see both teams face varied challenges, but Chopra feels the scheduling of the series favours the has been a decent start for Sri Lanka in the new cycle of the WTC. Playing against Bangladesh at home, they drew the first Test and beat their arch-rivals comprehensively with an innings victory in the second and the final match of the series. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said Sri Lanka's fixtures offer them a realistic path to reach the Lanka flatter to deceive. Their home series are against India, South Africa and Bangladesh. Their schedule is excellent because their away tours are to New Zealand, the West Indies and Pakistan. They should do well in the West Indies and Pakistan,' he explained. The cricketer-turned-commentator added that even if Sri Lanka struggle in New Zealand, the strength of their home advantage could prove decisive in helping them reach the finale of the championship.'Even if they get stuck in the two away matches in New Zealand, they have India, South Africa and Bangladesh at home. It is not a bad draw at all. Sri Lanka actually have decent chances. I feel Sri Lanka's chances of qualifying are better than South Africa's,' Chopra in 2023, the team had a golden opportunity to seal a spot in the finals. The Dimuth Karunaratne-led side had to beat New Zealand in both the tests to qualify for the summit clash at the Oval, London, but ended up losing both the matches. In the previous 2023-25 cycle, they finished sixth on the points table with a win percentage of sub-continent tours could keep SA out of WTC Final: ChopraAnalysing South Africa's schedule, Chopra noted that their home matches will be far from straightforward. 'Australia and England series will be tough, while hosting Bangladesh will be comparatively easy,' he away leg looks equally challenging for the Proteas, with tours to Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. All three are sub-continent series where spin is likely to play a key role, which Chopra believes will be tough for the defending Africa are coming off a high, having beaten Australia by five wickets in the 2023-25 WTC final to claim the World Test Mace. However, the road to another final will require them to adapt to spinning conditions away from home while still performing against competitive sides like Australia and England on home soil.- EndsMust Watch
IOL News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Shukri Conrad channelling his ‘inner Rassie' as Proteas prepare for WTC final
TWO HEADS BETTER THAN ONE Proteas coach Shukri Conrad (pictured) draws inspiration from a transformative chat with Springbok mentor Rassie Erasmus as South Africa prepares for the WTC final against Australia at Lord's. Picture: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix As the World Test Championship (WTC) final looms large, Proteas coach Shukri Conrad has revealed the inspiration he has taken from a chat with Springbok mentor Rassie Erasmus. South Africa will take on Australia in the WTC final at Lord's in London starting on June 11, with silverware in limited overs ICC events so far eluding the Proteas with one exception back in 1998. South Africa, however, have lifted the World Test Mace for earning the number one ranking, but have not achieved the equivalent feat since the revised format of the WTC, which ends with a final to declare a champion. The Springboks, of course, are four-time Rugby World Cup winners. The last two in a row, though, have come with Erasmus at the helm, as he is widely regarded as a rugby and sporting genius.
