India head into the fourth T20I against South Africa with a 2–1 lead and a chance to seal the five-match series when the two sides meet at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, on Wednesday. A win will give the hosts an unassailable lead, while defeat will force a series decider.
India’s Combinations Paying Dividends
Barring the second T20I, India have fielded stronger and more balanced combinations than South Africa. In the opening match, the middle and lower order rose to the occasion, with Hardik Pandya smashing a scintillating half-century. The third T20I, however, was set up by the bowlers, who delivered a clinical performance before the top order completed a comfortable chase of a modest target.
Bowling Steps Up Despite Key Absences
With Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel unavailable, India’s bowling looked thin on paper in the third match. However, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Varun Chakravarthy stepped up admirably, while Kuldeep Yadav made full use of the conditions to silence his critics. Axar has been ruled out of the series, and Bumrah is also unlikely to return, prompting India to persist with the winning XI.
Batting Still a Work in Progress
India’s batting remains inconsistent. Abhishek Sharma provided early momentum in the Powerplay during the third T20I, but Shubman Gill is yet to find form, while skipper Suryakumar Yadav will be eager to deliver a defining innings. With limited changes expected, the onus will once again be on the top order to provide stability.
South Africa Backs Against the Wall
South Africa enter the must-win contest under pressure. Their batting has fluctuated throughout the series, with Quinton de Kock’s blistering 90 in the second T20I followed by a failure in the third. Aiden Markram’s fifty in the last game offered some hope, and the Proteas will need sustained contributions from their senior batters to stay alive in the series. Replicating their second-match performance is their best chance of forcing a decider.
Conditions and Venue Advantage
India are unbeaten in three T20Is at this venue, a statistic that further boosts their confidence. Dew has played a crucial role throughout the series, making it imperative for teams to post competitive totals and maintain discipline with the ball—an approach South Africa executed well in their lone victory.
Probable Playing XIs: India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (capt.), Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (capt.), Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman.
