Why Is the Toss Delayed at Lucknow? When Will Toss Happen at Ekana Stadium for India vs South Africa 4th T20I?

The toss for the fourth T20I between India and South Africa was delayed at the Ekana Cricket Stadium due to heavy fog on a chilly winter evening in Lucknow.

Dense fog covered large parts of the stadium as players and officials waited for conditions to improve. Visibility remained poor in the outfield, making it unsafe to proceed with the toss on time.

The toss was originally scheduled for 6:30 pm. However, match officials decided to push it back to 6:50 pm after the first inspection of the ground and light conditions which is further pushed back to 7:30 pm after second inspection. Another inspection done at 8:00 pm but there is no improvements in condition.

Despite the short delay, the fog did not clear. Thick mist continued to hang over the stadium, especially around the square and boundary areas, raising concerns over player safety.

Umpires will carried out another inspection around 8:30 pm to reassess the situation. Officials were seen checking visibility under the floodlights and discussing the conditions with ground staff.

A final decision on the toss and possible start time was set to be taken after this inspection. Both teams stayed in their dressing rooms as they waited for further updates.

Lucknow has seen cold and foggy evenings in recent days, a common winter pattern in north India. Such conditions often impact night games, especially during December.

The match is crucial for both sides, with India leading the five-match series 2-1. Any further delay could also affect the number of overs, if conditions fail to improve.

For now, all eyes remain on the weather as officials monitor the fog and decide the next course of action.