Argus News - India vs South Africa: Lucknow T20I Abandoned Due To Excessive Fog

Lucknow, Dec 17: Excessive fog forced the abandonment of the fourth T20I between India and South Africa at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Wednesday evening, after six separate inspections by match officials.

The unusual weather conditions made visibility impossible for players and umpires, leading to repeated delays before the final decision was taken. The toss itself had been postponed earlier in the evening, raising concerns about whether play could begin at all.

India entered the contest with hopes of sealing the series, while South Africa faced a must-win situation to keep their chances alive. However, the abandonment means the series equation remains unchanged, with both teams now looking ahead to the final match.

India’s preparations suffered another setback as opener Shubman Gill was ruled out of the game due to a foot injury sustained during practice. His absence was expected to give Sanju Samson an opportunity to open the innings, marking his return to the T20I side after recovering from a neck injury.

South Africa, meanwhile, continue to grapple with batting collapses witnessed in Dharamsala and Cuttack, despite Aiden Markram’s fighting knock in the third game. The visitors will now have to regroup quickly for the final encounter, which assumes greater importance with the T20 World Cup looming.

For India, the abandoned match denies them a chance to test combinations and address concerns over form, particularly Suryakumar Yadav’s lean patch. Both teams will now hope for clearer skies and a decisive finish in the series finale.