WATCH: Presenter mocks Kagiso Rabada for his 'drug-related ban' during an interview with Pat Cummins ahead of SA vs AUS Test series

Australia are all set to take on South Africa in the highly anticipated World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 Final at Lord's, London. The match will begin on Wednesday, June 11 (IST) at 3:00 PM IST. The toss will take place at 2:30 PM IST.

Under the leadership of Pat Cummins, Australia will aim to defend the WTC title, which they won by beating India in the previous final held at The Oval in June 2023. South Africa, on the other hand, will try to overcome their reputation as international cricket's regular chokers when they face the defending champions.

Even though they have some of the best players in the game, South Africa have won only one major tournament in the last 27 years. In their journey to the WTC final, they won just one of their first five Tests but stayed unbeaten in the next seven.

Also Read -SA vs AUS, WTC 2025 Final: Toss result and playing 11s, umpires list and pitch report

Ahead of the high-octane finale between South Africa and Australia, the big question is whether the Aussies will use their intense sledging strategy against the Proteas’ pace spearhead, Kagiso Rabada. Rabada was suspended mid-IPL 2025 after testing positive for a recreational drug, reportedly cocaine. He had taken it in South Africa and then returned home during the IPL, before issuing a statement apologising for setting the wrong example. Rabada later came back for the remainder of the IPL. However, the WTC final will be his first Test in South African whites since that drug controversy.

Since the 2018 Sandpaper-Gate incident in South Africa, which led to a one-year ban for Steve Smith and David Warner, and after Tim Paine's retirement, Australia under Cummins has made a clear effort to avoid sledging. Besides that, when some presenters tried to mock Rabada during the press conference, trying to be funny while Cummins was present, he understood the intention behind the question and started laughing. He then smiled and asked the reporters to move on to the next question.

Earlier, Australia captain Pat Cummins said that his team would not target Kagiso Rabada in the upcoming WTC final. The Australian fast bowler dismissed the rumours and clearly stated that "it’s not their style." He also said he would be surprised if Rabada is targeted by his teammates over the drug ban.

“It’s not really our style. I’d be surprised if that came up,” said Cummins.