What was meant to be an exciting evening of cricket in Lucknow turned into a frustrating night for fans as India vs South Africa T20I was called off without a single ball being bowled. Thick fog covered the stadium, raising serious questions about why the match was scheduled at this time of year and at this venue.
The game was supposed to begin at 7 PM but poor visibility delayed the toss as the ground remained wrapped in heavy fog. Officials carried out multiple inspections but conditions refused to improve. After six checks, the decision was finally taken to abandon the match altogether. Players from both the teams had already begun warming up before returning to their dressing rooms and Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya was even seen wearing a mask on the field due to the conditions.
For fans, the disappointment was overwhelming. Many had travelled long distances and spent hard-earned money just to see their favourite players in action. One spectator emotionally shared that he had gone as far as selling 3 sacks of wheat to afford the ticket and now wanted his money back. Another fan felt the match should have been scheduled earlier in the day, saying refunds were secondary to the heartbreak of missing a chance to watch the Indian team play live.
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Matches in north Indian venues have often faced weather-related disruptions during winter and this incident has only added fuel to the debate over planning and scheduling. As per cricket board policy, spectators are eligible for refunds, minus certain charges, if a match is abandoned before even a single ball is being bowled.
On the cricketing front, India continue to lead the five-match series 2-1 after wins in Cuttack and Dharamshala. With this abandoned game, Suryakumar Yadav-led side can no longer lose the series. The fifth and final T20I is scheduled to be played on Friday in Ahmedabad.
India’s camp, however, has not been free of concerns. There are reports that vice-captain Shubman Gill may miss the rest of the series due to a toe injury. Earlier, all-rounder Axar Patel was ruled out because of illness and was replaced by Shahbaz Ahmed, adding to the team’s fitness worries.
