The toss for the fourth T20 International between India and South Africa at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium has been delayed due to excessive fog enveloping the venue. Officials have scheduled further inspections, with the latest set for 8 PM IST, as visibility remains severely limited.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the delay via social media, stating that unrelenting dense fog forced the postponement from the original 6:30 PM toss time. Live visuals from the stadium showed a thick haze, making it difficult to spot the white ball under floodlights, raising concerns about player safety and fair play.
India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, enter the match with a 2-1 series lead after a commanding seven-wicket victory in the third T20I at Dharamsala. A win tonight would seal the five-match series for the hosts and mark their 10th consecutive T20I bilateral series triumph. South Africa, captained by Aiden Markram, are under pressure to force a decider in the final game.
Adding to the pre-match drama, vice-captain Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the remaining two T20Is due to a toe injury sustained during training. Sanju Samson is expected to open the batting in his place. All-rounder Axar Patel was earlier withdrawn from the series due to illness, with Shahbaz Ahmed named as his replacement.
This is the first time Lucknow has hosted a men’s T20I in December, and the winter scheduling in northern India has drawn criticism amid recurring fog issues. Some reports highlighted poor air quality contributing to the haze, with former players noting that conditions are likely to worsen as the evening progresses.
Fans at the stadium and viewers nationwide await updates, hoping for improved visibility to allow the high-stakes encounter to proceed. The match, if it goes ahead, is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM IST and will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network and streamed on JioHotstar.
