The fourth T20I between India and South Africa in Lucknow being abandoned without a single ball bowled has sparked serious concern within Indian cricket’s top administration. Following the incident, Rajeev Shukla indicated that winter international matches in northern India may no longer be viable.
The game, scheduled at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium, was officially called off due to excessive fog. However, conditions at the ground were closer to heavy smog, with visibility dropping sharply and air quality posing potential health risks to players and officials.
Speaking to the media, Shukla admitted that the situation demands urgent action. He said the Board of Control for Cricket in India would need to rethink how international fixtures are scheduled during the winter months in the north. According to him, rising pollution levels can no longer be brushed aside as a minor inconvenience and must be treated as a serious safety issue.
The match was set to begin at 7 pm, but worsening conditions led to repeated inspections. After six assessments, officials finally abandoned the contest around 9:30 pm. By then, players had already cut short their warm-up sessions, and large sections of the crowd had started leaving the stadium.
Air Quality Index readings in Lucknow crossed 400, placing the city firmly in the hazardous category. The severity of the conditions became widely evident when Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya was seen wearing a mask during warm-ups, an image that quickly circulated online and intensified criticism of venue selection.
Shukla was personally present during one of the inspections and appeared visibly frustrated after discussions with match officials. With no reserve day available, the abandoned match meant both teams would move directly to Ahmedabad for the series decider, with India holding a 2–1 lead over South Africa.
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The washout has also reignited debate around the broader scheduling of the South Africa tour, which included venues such as New Chandigarh, Dharamsala, and Lucknow during November and December. These months are notorious for fog, cold weather, and severe pollution in northern India. Just days earlier, the Dharamsala T20I was played in near-freezing conditions, with players openly admitting the environment made playing difficult.
As concerns grow, the Lucknow abandonment could prove to be a turning point, pushing Indian cricket authorities toward a long-overdue reassessment of winter cricket in the region.
