The fourth T20I between India and South Africa was delayed on Wednesday, December 17, after dense fog engulfed the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. The players had already taken the field for warm-up sessions when officials announced the postponement of the toss, hoping that visibility would improve.
The unusual situation was later confirmed through an official statement issued by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
“Toss in Lucknow has been delayed due to excessive fog. Next inspection at 6:50 PM,” a post by BCCI on X read.
𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: Toss has been further delayed.
The next inspection will be at 7:30 PM IST.
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/4k14nZK04L#TeamIndia | #INDvSA | @IDFCFIRSTBank https://t.co/MtsMt78ZJf
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 17, 2025
The initial inspection by the match officials offered little encouragement, with conditions still considered unsuitable for play. As per an update from the BCCI, a second inspection is scheduled for 7:30 PM IST.
“𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: Toss has been further delayed. The next inspection will be at 7:30 PM IST.”
Footage from the venue shows that thick fog remains a major issue, significantly reducing visibility. Elevated pollution levels and a high Air Quality Index across parts of northern India, combined with falling winter temperatures, have further aggravated the situation.
India Hold 2–1 Lead In IND vs SA 2025 T20I Series
The Men in Blue hold a slender advantage in the five-match series following their emphatic victory in the third T20I at Dharamshala. With a chance to wrap up the series early, India are also eyeing their 10th straight T20I series triumph.
The fifth and final match of the series will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday, December 19.
Squads:
South Africa Squad: Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock(w), Aiden Markram(c), Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman, David Miller, Keshav Maharaj, George Linde, Tony de Zorzi, Lutho Sipamla, Kwena Maphaka
India Squad: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma(w), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Shahbaz Ahmed, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah.
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