The battle for the mace heats up as Australia and South Africa gear up for an intense World Test Championship (WTC) Final showdown starting on June 11 at Lord's. This Test will also mark the first meeting between the two sides since 2023. The Australian skipper Pat Cummins is all set for glory once again, eyeing his second consecutive WTC title for his country. 

Ahead of the blockbuster encounter, renowned Indian commentator Aakash Chopra explains what makes Pat Cummins special and why he can turn out to be a serious threat for the Proteas. Pat has previously led Australia to ODI World Cup glory by defeating the tournament India in a full-house Ahmedabad stadium and later followed it up by outclassing the same opposition again in the Border Gavaskar Trophy (2024-25) Test series.  

See also: SA vs AUS, WTC Final 2025: South Africa vs Australia, Match Preview

Aakash Chopra's honest verdict on Pat Cummins

In a discussion between Aakash Chopra and former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, the duo lauded Cummins' all-round abilities and see him as someone who could pose a serious challenge to South Africa. They both went on to agree that Cummins is a true match-winner for his side and has a great game sense that sets him apart from the rest. 

“Pat Cummins is the biggest threat. His leadership, his bowling when there is a partnership, his batting lower down the order—he contributes across departments. He leads from the front and always keeps the opposition under pressure.”

A real battle for the ages await South Africa as they find themselves on the cusp of a historic feat. South Africa have had multiple failed attempts while getting their hands on the ICC Trophy. They previously missed on the 2024 T20 World Cup title, coming mighty close to the finishing line, only to throw it away at the last minute. They would want to brush the scars of the painful T20 World Cup defeat aside and shift all their attention to securing the prestigious ICC World Test Championship mace.