An evening at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium descended into chaos when a dense fog bank rolled in, leading the India vs South Africa 4th T20I to be called off. The India vs South Africa 4th T20I, a clash expected to decide momentum in the series, was abandoned without a toss following the several inspection of the playing conditions by the officials.
IND vs SA 4th T20I Called Off:What Happened?
The IND vs SA match being called off in Lucknow, became the first major international cricket match in India to be abandoned because of fog. Umpires conducted several inspections, and despite the floodlights blazing, they decided the conditions were unsafe, as a thick blanket of fog engulfed the field.
The fans entered the stadium at approximately 5:00 pm, and the visibility declined even after the floodlights were turned on. The toss was to take place at 6:30 pm, rescheduled to 7 pm but was forced to be postponed because the umpires discovered that the conditions were not safe. By 7:30 pm, players had retreated to the dressing rooms after a brief warm-up. Later in the night, the pitch was blanketed, and any hope of playing was lost. After several inspections, the officials finally decided to call off the India vs South Africa 4th T20I at around 9:25 pm, following a sixth inspection. Players even warmed up in masks, which gave an indication of how serious the haze was. Several inspections were conducted, but sight could not get any better, and the teams had to abandon warming up and go back to the dressing rooms.
Several reasons led to the decision:
Poor visibility:
The official reasons given by the match officials were excessive fog and poor visibility. The pollution around the area resulted in smog, and the players could hardly see the boundary ropes.
Hazardous air quality:
The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Lucknow reached 400, falling in the hazardous category. Private monitors recorded an AQI of 350 at 9 pm, half an hour before the India vs South Africa 4th T20I was called off.
Player welfare:
With excessive fog in Lucknow, the Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya warmed up wearing a mask, highlighting concerns about breathing problems. Both teams spent extended periods indoors to avoid the smog.
Fans braved the cold and waited for hours, but many began to leave as it became clear that play would not be possible. However, the IND vs SA fog delay sparked the frustration and raised questions about scheduling international matches in North India during winter.
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Series Impact and What’s Next
With the IND vs SA 4th T20I called off, India continues to lead the five-match series 2-1. South Africa now has only one opportunity to level the series when the teams meet in Ahmedabad for the final T20I on December 19.
The match, which was called off due to fog, has handed India a psychological advantage as they are ahead in the series; however, the abrupt halt also means players miss out on crucial match practice ahead of the T20 World Cup scheduled for early 2026.
India’s top order remains a talking point, as Suryakumar Yadav has struggled for runs, and all-rounder Shivam Dube publicly backed his captain, describing him as a “fighter.” However, the Proteas are keen on improving their squad following the cancellation of the 4th T20I, with pacer Anrich Nortje and other seamers gearing up for the final clash in Ahmedabad.
Reactions and Questions for the BCCI
This is not the first time the weather has played a crucial role in cricket, especially in India. With the India vs South Africa T20I being called off, it has intensified scrutiny of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Here are some reactions of the fans on social media regarding the India vs South Africa 4th T20I being called off:
Similarly, former India batter Robin Uthappa, on commentary duty, called the decision of calling off IND vs SA 4th T20 “counter-intuitive” given that conditions were bound to worsen. Spectators voiced frustration on social media, and politicians such as Shashi Tharoor questioned why a match was scheduled in a city with an AQI of over 400 when venues in southern India had far better air quality.
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