The fourth T20I of India vs South Africa at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to excessive fog, an extremely rare reason for a match to be called off.
While rain-related abandonments are common, fog forced officials into a tough call as visibility dropped to dangerously low levels. Conditions at the ground were so poor that continuing with the match could have posed a serious risk to players.
Match officials waited for a while in the hope that visibility would improve, but that never happened. Unlike daytime fog, which usually lifts with sunlight, fog tends to get denser as the night progresses, making the situation worse.
With the match abandoned, India can no longer lose the series. The best South Africa can now achieve is a series draw by winning the final India vs South Africa T20I.
Fans slam BCCI after India vs South Africa match abandoned
The India vs South Africa abandonment decision sparked anger among fans, who took to social media to criticize the BCCI. Many questioned the scheduling of matches and asked whether weather conditions at the venues were properly considered. The third India vs South Africa T20I, which was held in Dharamsala, was also played under foggy conditions, though visibility there was not as bad as it was in Lucknow.
No Shubman Gill in the India vs South Africa T20I series
Had the match gone ahead, India would have been without Shubman Gill, who was ruled out of the India vs South Africa series due to a toe injury, as per a PTI report. His absence was expected to open the door for Sanju Samson to feature in the playing XI.
Samson had earlier scored three centuries while opening the batting but was pushed down the order after Gill returned to the squad for the Asia Cup. He was later dropped following a dip in form. With Gill unavailable, Samson would have had another opportunity to cement his spot as an opener.