KEY POINTS
- India eye a historic 14th consecutive T20I series victory.
- South Africa’s “freedom” contrasts with India’s high-pressure expectations.
- Key duel: Reeza Hendricks’ poor form vs. Arshdeep Singh’s threat.
- Heavy dew in Lucknow likely makes winning the toss crucial.
LUCKNOW: With a commanding 3-1 lead, India will aim to extend their proud unbeaten streak to 14 consecutive T20I series victories when they face South Africa in the fourth match of a five-game contest at the Ekana Stadium here on Wednesday.
Seeking Parity After Test Defeat
A win in Lucknow or in the final game in Ahmedabad would secure the series for the hosts. However, the broader context of the tour adds intrigue. Having lost the preceding Test series 2-0, a 4-1 T20I victory would allow India to draw a semblance of parity.
South Africa, described as playing with a sense of “freedom” due to lower expectations, will look to leverage that advantage to force a series decider.
Key Players in the Spotlight
The spotlight falls on key players from both sides. For South Africa, opener Reeza Hendricks is under immense pressure due to his poor record against India. He will face a stern test from India’s pace spearhead, Arshdeep Singh, who dismantled him in the previous game.
For India, captain Suryakumar Yadav seeks a return to form, having not scored a T20I fifty in over a year.
Team News and Uncertainties
Team news suggests India may field an unchanged side from their Dharamsala win, with Jasprit Bumrah’s availability still under a cloud due to personal reasons. All-rounder Axar Patel has been ruled out of the remainder of the series due to illness.
South Africa’s lineup remains unpredictable, with continued experimentation in their search for an ideal combination.
The series concludes with the fifth and final T20I in Ahmedabad on Friday, December 19, 2025.
Pitch and Conditions Favour Chasers
The pitch in Lucknow, while cooler than in summer, is not expected to aid spinners significantly. Heavy dew is anticipated, making winning the toss and opting to chase a likely strategy for both captains.
Squads
India (probable) 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Suryakumar Yadav (capt.), 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Shivam Dube, 8 Harshit Rana, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Varun Chakravarthy
South Africa (probable) 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Reeza Hendricks, 3 Aiden Markram (capt.), 4 Dewald Brevis, 5 David Miller, 6 Donovan Ferreira, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Corbin Bosch, 9 George Linde/Keshav Maharaj/Anrich Nortje, 10 Lungi Ngidi, 11 Ottneil Baartman
