The fourth T20I between India and South Africa in Lucknow on Wednesday, December 18, 2025, was abandoned due to excessive fog, marking a historic and frustrating first for international cricket in India. The match officials' decision to conduct six inspections over nearly three hours before calling off the game drew sharp criticism from commentators, including former India batter Robin Uthappa and South African pace legend Dale Steyn.
Umpires' 'Befuddling' Delay Draws Ire
With thick haze enveloping the Ekana Cricket Stadium, the scheduled 6:30 PM toss was postponed. Despite visibly poor conditions under the floodlights, the umpires proceeded with periodic inspections every 30 minutes. Robin Uthappa, on commentary duty for JioCinema, was openly baffled by this approach. He questioned the logic of delaying the inevitable as visibility only worsened with the advancing night.
"I'm actually not even listening to you because I'm so befuddled by the umpire's decision right now," Uthappa said during the broadcast. "How do they think it's going to get better as the night wears on? It's not going to get better, it's only going to get worse. What are they actually thinking?"
Steyn Joins Critique, Seeks 'Clarity' from Officials
Dale Steyn echoed Uthappa's confusion, expressing a desire to understand the specific parameters the officials were assessing. The former Proteas fast bowler suggested that the conditions, while challenging, might have been playable from a player's perspective, hinting at a disconnect between the rulebook and on-ground reality.
"I'd love to get one of the umpires. It would be informative to know what they're assessing and thinking," Steyn stated. "If they walk past again, we should grab them and ask for clarity. I've played first-class games in far worse conditions, with a lot more fog. This is way better than that."
Frustration Mounts On and Off the Field
The unprecedented abandonment led to palpable disappointment. This was the first night T20I scheduled at the venue in December, and the hazardous conditions took center stage. India all-rounder Hardik Pandya was even spotted wearing a mask on the field. As the delay stretched past three hours, sections of the crowd began to leave, while a few frustrated fans in the stands expressed their displeasure by throwing paper and plastic objects onto the field.
The final inspection at 9:30 PM confirmed the abandonment, concluding a long evening of uncertainty. The match became the first international game in India to be called off solely due to excessive fog, setting an unwelcome record. The incident has sparked a debate on the protocols for assessing weather-related delays in evening matches during North India's winter.
