The fourth T20 International between India and South Africa at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium was abandoned on Wednesday without a ball being bowled due to poor visibility caused by dense fog. Umpires conducted as many as seven inspections of the ground over several hours, but ultimately called off the match as conditions failed to improve.
India, captained by Suryakumar Yadav, entered the game leading the five-match series 2-1, following a seven-wicket victory in the third T20I in Dharamsala. A win in Lucknow would have sealed the series for the hosts, but persistent fog denied both teams the opportunity to play.
The toss, originally scheduled for 6:30 PM IST, was delayed multiple times as a thick blanket of fog enveloped the stadium, reducing visibility significantly. Reports indicated the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached hazardous levels around 400-418, exacerbating the poor conditions. Players, including India’s Hardik Pandya who was seen wearing a protective mask during warm-ups, waited patiently, but the fog only thickened as the evening progressed.
Officials hoped for improvement, with inspections scheduled progressively later into the night, but by around 9:30 PM, the decision was made to abandon play after a final inspection by umpires Rohan Pandit and KN Ananthapadmanabhan. Fans in attendance expressed disappointment, with many leaving the venue early.
During the inspections, the two umpires stood at either end of the 22 yards and look into the distance to check the visibility. They also walked around the outfield to assess the visibility. The pitch remained covered with the hessian cloth to protect it from excessive moisture in the air.
This marks a rare instance of an international cricket match being abandoned due to poor visibility and fog.
The series now moves to the decider on December 19 in Ahmedabad, where India will aim to defeat South Africa to win the T20I series. India now can’t loss the series. The Proteas, led by Aiden Markram, will look to level the series.
