Picking a playing XI of IPL 2025 stars from South Africa and Australia's WTC final squads ft. Aiden Markram and Josh Hazlewood
South Africa will take on Australia in the ICC 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground from June 11 to June 15. The Aussies are defending champions, having won the 2023 final by beating India. On the other hand, the Proteas have made it to the summit clash for the first time.
South Africa topped the 2023-25 WTC points table, with 69.44 percentage points (PCT). They played 12 matches, winning eight and losing three, while one Test ended in a draw. Australia finished second in the points table, with a PCT of 67.54. The Aussies played 19 matches during the 2023-25 WTC cycle, winning 13 and losing four, while two Test matches ended in draws.
A number of players from both sides were part of the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL). In this feature, we pick a playing XI of IPL 2025 stars from South Africa and Australia's WTC final squads.
Top order: Travis Head, Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton (wk)
Travis Head, Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton would form the top order in the IPL 2025 playing XI picked from the WTC final squads. Head had a mixed season for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). In 12 innings, he scored 374 runs at an average of 31.16 and a strike rate of 162.60, with three half-centuries.
Markram had an excellent IPL 2025 season with the bat for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) even as the franchise failed to reach the playoffs. In 13 innings, he hit 445 runs at an average of 34.23 and a strike rate of 148.82, with the aid of five fifties.
Rickelton would be the keeper-batter in the IPL 2025 XI picked from the WTC final squads. The left-hander batter had an impressive season, opening the batting for Mumbai Indians (MI). In 14 innings, he contributed 388 runs at an average of 29.84 and a strike rate of 150.97, with the aid of three fifties.
Middle order & all-rounders: Josh Inglis, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch
Aggressive Australian batter Josh Inglis also had his moments while representing Punjab Kings (PBKS) in IPL 2025. In 11 innings, he scored 278 runs at an average of 30.88 and a strike rate of 162.57. Inglis struck 73 off 42 in a league game against MI and contributed 38 and 39 in Qualifier 2 and the final respectively.
South Africa's young batter Tristan Stubbs also features in the IPL 2025 XI picked from the WTC final squads. Representing Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2025, Stubbs contributed 300 runs in 13 innings at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 150.75. He played a number of impressive cameos during the T20 league.
The South African duo of Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch would be the all-rounders in the IPL 2025 playing XI picked from WTC final squads. Jansen claimed 16 wickets in 14 matches for PBKS and played a couple of handy cameos with the willow. Bosch joined MI as a replacement player. He contributed quick-fire 20s the two times he batted and claimed one wicket with his pace bowling.
Bowlers: Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Kagiso Rabada
Australian captain Pat Cummins would lead the IPL 2025 playing XI picked from WTC final squads. He captained SRH in IPL 2025. And, while the franchise struggled, Cummins claimed 16 wickets in 14 matches, with a best of 3-19.
Cummins' seasoned pace bowling partners Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc also feature in the playing XI. Hazlewood was instrumental in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) maiden IPL triumph. He claimed 22 wickets in 12 matches, with a best of 4-33. Starc had a mixed run for DC. In 10 innings, he claimed 14 wickets, which included a five-fer.
South Africa's Kagiso Rabada completes the playing XI. He picked up two wickets in four matches for Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2025. While there are no frontline spinners in the playing XI, Head, Markram and Stubbs could all chip in.
Impact Sub: Lungi Ngidi
South African pacer Lungi Ngidi would be the impact sub in the IPL 2025 playing XI picked from WTC final squads. He played two matches for RCB and picked up four scalps, including a best of 3-30 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).