The fourth T20I between India and South Africa in Lucknow was abandoned due to dense smog and hazardous air quality. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticized the scheduling, highlighting Kerala’s much safer conditions, as players and fans faced an evening of frustration.
Shashi Tharoor criticizes scheduling, suggests Kerala as safer venue.
Lucknow: The fourth T20I between India and South Africa at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow was called off after officials found visibility dangerously low due to dense smog. Despite repeated assessments and floodlights being switched on, the thick haze made play impossible. Players remained in their dressing rooms as the conditions deteriorated with sunset, forcing the match to be abandoned.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed his disappointment on social media, highlighting that cricket fans were “waiting in vain” as hazardous conditions stalled the game. Tharoor suggested that the match should have been held in Thiruvananthapuram instead, where air quality was significantly better with an AQI of 68 compared to Lucknow’s severe AQI of 411. He stressed that the decision to play in a pollution prone city was ill considered.
The India Meteorological Department had issued an orange alert for very dense fog across several parts of Uttar Pradesh. The combination of fog and smog severely affected visibility at the stadium. Former cricketers and commentators warned that delaying the start would make play even more difficult, as fog in winter evenings typically intensifies with time.
Cricket fans have been waiting in vain for the #INDVSSAODI to start in Lucknow. But thanks to dense smog, pervasive in most north Indian cities, and an AQI of 411, visibility is too poor to permit a game of cricket. They should’ve scheduled the game in Thiruvananthapuram, where…
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 17, 2025
The washout came at a time when India was already coping with injuries. Vice-captain Shubman Gill was ruled out due to a toe injury, while Axar Patel was sidelined due to illness. The BCCI named Shahbaz Ahmed as a replacement for Patel for the remaining matches. Sanju Samson was expected to open in Gill’s absence, further reshaping the team strategy for the crucial series.
The abandoned match frustrated both spectators and former cricketers. Robin Uthappa, who was commentating, expressed disbelief over the umpire’s decision, questioning whether conditions would improve. Social media users highlighted the danger of playing in toxic air, noting that players, including Hardik Pandya, were forced to wear masks to protect themselves.
The washout of the fourth T20I left the series hanging, with India leading 2–1. The fifth and final match is scheduled to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on December 19. The abandoned game added tension, as India needed a win in Lucknow to seal the series, leaving fans and players alike disappointed by the missed opportunity.
