IND vs SA 4th T20I: India eye series win in Lucknow as Suryakumar, Gill face pressure

After staging a strong comeback with a convincing win in the third T20I, India will look to seal the five-match series against South Africa in the fourth game on Wednesday, December 17, at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.

India bounced back impressively after being comprehensively outplayed in the second match, with their bowlers leading the charge to bowl out South Africa for just 117. The hosts then completed the chase comfortably in 15.5 overs, riding on a brisk start from Abhishek Sharma, who once again set the tone at the top.

While India’s bowling unit delivered a near-perfect performance despite the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel, concerns persist over the batting form of captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill. The duo failed to make a significant impact yet again in the third T20I, scoring 12 and 28 respectively.

With only seven matches left before the T20 World Cup, scrutiny around their form has intensified, particularly as India prepare to defend their title on home soil.

South Africa, meanwhile, endured a forgettable outing in the third T20I, with little going their way. Led by Aiden Markram, the visitors will be eager to put that defeat behind them and approach the Lucknow fixture with a fresh mindset, knowing the series is still alive.

Will Samson get an opportunity?

Shubman Gill’s continued struggles have once again brought his place in the side under the spotlight, despite his role as vice-captain. Gill was recalled to the T20I setup during the Asia Cup 2025, replacing Sanju Samson at the top of the order, even though Samson had enjoyed a productive run in that position.

Since Gill’s return, Samson has struggled for consistent opportunities, with frequent reshuffles in the batting order affecting his rhythm. Gill, meanwhile, has failed to register a single 50-plus score in 15 innings since his comeback, fuelling debate over whether the team management should consider reinstating Samson as an opener.

While drastic changes so close to the World Cup may be unlikely, pressure on Gill is expected to intensify if he fails again in Lucknow.

When and where to watch

The fourth T20I between India and South Africa will begin at 7:00 PM IST at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. The match will be telecast live on Star Sports, with live streaming available on JioHotstar.

Ekana Stadium pitch report

A total of six T20Is have been played at the Ekana Stadium so far, with teams batting first winning five of them. The average first-innings score is 160, while the highest successful chase at the venue stands at 100. The pitch traditionally offers assistance to spinners, though dew is expected to play a role later in the evening. Captains winning the toss may prefer to bowl first.

Team news

India suffered two setbacks ahead of the third T20I, with Jasprit Bumrah returning to Mumbai due to a family matter and Axar Patel being ruled out of the series due to illness. Bumrah is unlikely to feature in the remaining matches.

Despite the absence of two senior players, India’s squad depth has helped them cope effectively, and they will once again back themselves to deliver a strong performance.

South Africa have no injury concerns. The visitors made three changes in the third T20I, bringing in Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch and Anrich Nortje. David Miller, who missed the previous game, is expected to return, while Keshav Maharaj could also be considered to strengthen the spin attack on a surface likely to assist turn.

Predicted XIs

India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy

South Africa: Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman

Match prediction

India will be keen to wrap up the series in Lucknow, while South Africa are expected to mount a stronger challenge. The toss could once again play a decisive role due to the dew factor later in the evening.

However, given India’s recent dominance and home advantage, they enter the contest as favourites and are expected to clinch the series with a win in the fourth T20I.