Star-studded commentary panel unveiled for WTC Final broadcast

A commentary panel consisting of several stalwarts of the game – Ravi Shastri, Ricky Ponting, Sunil Gavaskar, Matthew Hayden, Nasser Hussain and Kumar Sangakkara, joined by veteran broadcasters Harsha Bhogle and Alison Mitchell, alongside Dinesh Karthik and Justin Langer – will bring top-tier coverage for the World Test Championship Final between India and Australia, starting 7 June at The Oval.

Viewers can enjoy cutting-edge coverage with a minimum of 35 cameras present at the venue. The coverage will also incorporate a wide array of DRS services, such as ball tracking and Hawk-Eye.

The presence of Batcam's drone camera will capture breathtaking views of the venues and surroundings, accompanied by the buggy cam that will offer incredible ground-level view as well as the Spidercam that will provide an aerial view of the gameplay.

Where to watch the World Test Championship Final

The broadcast will feature Field 360° - a virtual field model provided by Quidich Innovation Labs with creative direction from ICC TV - which will be powered by an AI-enabled live player tracking engine that will deliver extensive fielding analysis to highlight fielding positions and strategies.

A number of international broadcast partners have lined up to bring the coverage of WTC Final to a potential audience of 700 million people across 100 territories. In India, the Star Sports network and Their digital platform Disney+ Hotstar will present the live English World Feed as well as regional coverage in multiple languages. India’s public broadcaster Doordarshan will also carry live coverage of each day’s play via their DD Sports channel.

In Australia, all matches will be live on Channel 7 and digital platform 7Plus which will include a pitch-side discussion live from the venue. Within the UK, Sky Sports will be providing live coverage via their Sky Sports Cricket channel as well Sky Go app and NOW available via subscription.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, Supersport will provide comprehensive coverage across their linear network and digital platforms like the DSTV app. New Zealand viewers can tune in to live coverage provided by Sky Sport on their linear channels and the Sky Go platform. Cricket fans in the US and Canada can catch the action through Willow TV on both linear and digital platforms.

Additionally, CricLife on Etisalat and Starzplay will cater to fans in the UAE, Sportsmax in the Caribbean, ATN in Afghanistan, Gazi TV in Bangladesh, and Maharaja TV in Sri Lanka will offer live coverage. Broadcast partners in nearly 100 territories will ensure comprehensive global coverage.

For all other markets, the ICC's digital platform, icc.tv, will bring live coverage of the thrilling World Test Championship Final.

Non-live digital coverage will be made available via the ICC Facebook and Instagram channels, with in-play clips and highlights clips in the Indian subcontinent and global five-minute highlights. In addition, BBC Sport will also provide coverage via short-form in-play and highlights clips within the host country.

With a dedicated tournament website and mobile apps for iOS and Android, fans can stay updated on the latest match clips, daily highlights (including Hindi), and exclusive behind-the-scenes player content. For a truly immersive experience, VR ShotTracker provides a 360-degree replay of every six, available on the apps.

Speaking about the upcoming Final, Ricky Ponting said: “Test cricket is the ultimate format for cricketers of my generation. It is the ultimate test of skill and temperament. I’m looking forward to commentating on the World Test Championship Final at The Oval between two top-class sides. I can’t wait!”

India's former head coach, Ravi Shastri, who was at the helm the last time India played the WTC Final in 2021, said: “India and Australia have had some epic encounters in the past, and they are two tough sides who will give everything to lift the mace. This is the ultimate test, and it will take not only talent and flair but a lot of grit and determination to come out on top. India have been in the final before and this is a chance for them to go one better.”