IND vs SA: Lucknow Fog Causes Toss Delay Ahead of India-South Africa 4th T20I, Inspection At 7:30 PM IST

IND vs SA: The fourth T20I between India and South Africa at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday faced a delay as thick fog made it difficult to spot the white ball.

The toss, originally scheduled at 6:30 PM in the day, was first postponed to 6:50 PM IST and now the second inspection will be at 7:30 PM IST.

India enter the match leading the five-match series 2-1, with both sides having experienced swings in momentum so far. The series opened with a dominant performance by the hosts at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on December 9, where India posted 175 for 6 and then skittled South Africa for just 74, winning by a massive 101 runs.

South Africa bounced back in the second T20I at Mullanpur on December

11, scoring 213 for 4 and then restricting India to 162, securing a 51-run victory.

India regained the upper hand in the third T20I at Dharamsala on December 14, restricting South Africa to a mere 117 and chasing the target comfortably in 15.5 overs, winning by seven wickets. In contrast, the last T20I held at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in 2023 saw India chase down a tricky 100-run target against New Zealand with just one ball remaining, highlighting the stadium's challenging conditions.

Adding to India's concerns, vice-captain Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the final two T20Is due to a toe injury sustained during training, according to reports from PTI and Cricbuzz. Sanju Samson is expected to step in as an opener in Gill's absence. The team management is taking precautionary measures to ensure Gill's recovery ahead of upcoming matches.

With the toss delayed due to the fog and India holding a series advantage, both teams will be eager to gain momentum. South Africa, in particular, will need a strong batting and bowling performance to stay alive in the series, making Wednesday's contest a crucial showdown.