Lucknow: The fourth T20 International between India and South Africa was abandoned without a single ball being bowled due to dense fog and extremely poor visibility, dampening the enthusiasm of cricket fans who had gathered at the Ekana International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
With this washout, Indiacontinuese to lead the five-match series 2–1, ensuring they cannot lose the series. The fifth and final T20I will now be played on Friday in Ahmedabad.
Despite braving the cold—temperatures hovered around 12 degrees Celsius—thousands of spectators who arrived at the stadium after nearly two years to witness a T20 clash between the two teams were left disappointed.
Persistent fog and worsening weather conditions throughout the day forced officials to call off the match without conducting even the toss.
Indihasve now remained unbeaten in home T20 series for the past six years and has not lost a bilateral T20 series at home in 15 consecutive series. The abandoned match means this remarkable streak will continue.
Fog Tightens Its Grip on Lucknow
Lucknow’s weather had deteriorated from the morning itself, with overcast skies and biting cold. The Ekana Stadium, located near the Gomti River and surrounded by lush greenery, became engulfed in mist by mid-afternoon.
By around 3 pm, it appeared as though the clouds had descended close to the ground. As evening approached, haze thickened steadily and eventually turned into dense fog.
Given the conditions, it was widely anticipated by evening that the match might be abandoned. The umpires conducted six inspections at intervals of 30 minutes before finally completing the formalities and declaring the match abandoned.
Due to poor visibility, umpires Ananth Padmanabhan and Rohan Pandit did not even proceed with the toss.
Questions Raised Over BCCI Scheduling
The abandonment has once again raised serious questions about the BCCI’s scheduling decisions.
Cities such as Lucknow, Chandigarh, and Dharamsala typically experience their worst pollution levels during this period of the year. On Wednesday,
Lucknow’s Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed the hazardous mark of 400, further compounding concerns about player safety.
A Pattern of Abandoned Matches in India
This was the third occasion in India–South Africa T20 history when a match was abandoned without a single ball being bowled.
Overall, it was the fifth such T20 match in India to be completely washed out due to fog, rain, or adverse weather conditions.
T20 matches in India abandoned without a ball being bowled:
- India vs New Zealand – September 2012, Visakhapatnam
- India vs South Africa – December 2015, Kolkata
- India vs Australia – October 2017, Hyderabad
- India vs South Africa – September 2019
- India vs South Africa – December 2025, Ekana Stadium, Lucknow
Globally, around 80 T20 matches have been abandoned without a single delivery being bowled.
Shubman Gill Ruled Out of Series
India suffered another setback as vice-captain Shubman Gill was ruled out of the remainder of the series due to a toe injury sustained during a practice session. Struggling for form, Gill will miss the final two matches of the series.
According to sources in the Indian cricket board, Gill had participated in an extended batting session in the nets a day before the fourth T20I.
Towards the end of the session, he injured his toe, experienced pain, and was seen limping.
Given his condition, it was deemed unlikely that he would be fit to play on Wednesday, and he did not travel with the team to the stadium.
At present, it remains uncertain whether Gill will be available for the final match in Ahmedabad.
This marks his second injury during South Africa’s current tour of India.
Earlier, he had suffered a neck injury during the first Test in Kolkata, which required a two-day hospital stay. As a result, he missed the second Test as well as the ODI series.
Ekana Stadium and South Africa: A History of Disruptions
Whenever India and South Africa have been scheduled to play at the Ekana Stadium, unforeseen disruptions have followed. This was the third such instance.
The first occurred in April 2020, when South Africa were set to play an ODI in Lucknow.
Preparations were complete, but the district administration cancelled the match a day before due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The South African team remained confined to their hotel for several days before returning.
The second instance was in October 2022, when heavy rain on match day threatened to wash out another ODI between the two sides.
Fortunately, the rain stopped, and thanks to modern drainage systems, the ground was made playable.
The match was reduced from 50 overs per side to 40 overs each, and India lost by nine runs.
How Umpires Decide in Foggy Conditions
In foggy conditions, umpires prioritise visibility and player safety. If the ball cannot be clearly seen, play is suspended.
Once visibility improves, the match may resume, with overs reduced depending on the time lost. The ICC has laid down these procedures to ensure fairness and clarity even under adverse conditions.
If, after following all prescribed processes, playing conditions remain unsuitable, the umpires declare the match abandoned.
Key rules include:
- Use of extra time: Before reducing overs, umpires use the available extra time, usually ranging from 60 to 90 minutes. Overs are reduced only after this buffer time is exhausted.
- Minimum overs required: For a T20 match to yield a result, both teams must play at least five overs each. In ICC knockout matches, this minimum is increased to 10 overs per side.
- Application of DLS: If the first innings is completed and play is interrupted during the second innings, the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern (DLS) method is used to revise the target.
Hardik Pandya Wears Mask Amid Pollution
Ahead of the scheduled start, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya was seen wearing a surgical mask during India’s warm-up session to protect himself from pollution.
The Indian players completed their warm-up by around 7:30 pm before returning to the dressing room as conditions continued to deteriorate.
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