IND vs SA 4th T20I: Suryakumar, Gill under the pump as India eye series win in Lucknow

India will look to secure the five-match T20I series against South Africa in the fourth game, set for Wednesday, December 17, at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, following their comeback victory in the third T20I. After a dominant performance in the previous match, where their bowlers dismissed the Proteas for a mere 117 runs, India aims to maintain its momentum.

While Abhishek Sharma's aggressive batting has provided strong starts for the hosts, who comfortably chased down the target in 15.5 overs, the form of Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill remains a concern. Both the captain and vice-captain have struggled to make significant contributions, scoring just 12 and 28 respectively in the last outing. With the T20 World Cup approaching, their performance is under increasing scrutiny as India prepares to defend its title at home.

South Africa, led by Aiden Markram, will be eager to bounce back from a disappointing performance in the third T20I. The team aims to put that loss behind them and adopt a positive approach, recognizing that the series is still within reach as they head to Lucknow.

The spotlight is on Shubman Gill's place in the team due to his ongoing struggles, despite his role as vice-captain. Gill's return to the T20I side during the Asia Cup 2025 came at the expense of Sanju Samson, who had been performing well. Since Gill's inclusion, Samson has had limited opportunities, and the constant changes in the batting order have affected his consistency. Gill has not recorded a single score above 50 in his 15 innings since returning, leading to growing calls for Samson's reinstatement at the top of the order. This debate intensifies with only seven matches remaining before the T20 World Cup.

Although the team management might hesitate to make significant changes so close to the tournament, the pressure on Gill will only increase if he fails to perform in Lucknow.

• Match Details**
• Time and Location:** The fourth T20I between India and South Africa will commence at 7:00 PM IST at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.
• Where to Watch:** The match will be broadcast on Star Sports, with live streaming available on JioHotstar.

**Ekana Stadium Pitch Report**

Six T20Is have been played at the Ekana Stadium, with teams batting first winning five times. The average first-innings score is 160, while the highest successful chase is 100. The pitch tends to favor spinners. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. the presence of dew in the second innings could influence the captain who wins the toss to choose to bowl first.

**Team News**

India faced setbacks before the third T20I, with Jasprit Bumrah returning to Mumbai due to a family matter. He is unlikely to participate in the rest of the series. Additionally, Axar Patel has been ruled out of the series due to illness.

Despite these absences, India's squad depth has allowed them to remain competitive, and they are expected to deliver another strong performance in Lucknow.

South Africa has no reported injuries, with all players available for selection. In the third T20I, they made three changes, bringing in Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch, and Anrich Nortje. David Miller was notably absent but is expected to return for the upcoming match. The Proteas might also consider including Keshav Maharaj to strengthen their spin options, which could be effective on the Lucknow pitch.

**Predicted XIs**

• India Predicted XI:** Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (w), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy
• South Africa Predicted XI:** Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (w), Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman

**Prediction**

India will be aiming to wrap up the series in the next game, while South Africa is expected to put up a strong fight. The toss is likely to be significant again because of the dew factor later in the evening.

Nevertheless, considering India's recent form, they are the favorites to win the fourth T20I and end South Africa's hopes of leveling the series.