India vs South Africa 4th T20I Match Preview – 17th December 2025

Venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Date & Time: Wednesday, 17th December 2025 | 13:30 GMT / 7:00 PM IST
Series: South Africa Tour of India 2025 – 4th T20I
Series Standing: India lead 2-0 after winning the first three matches

Match Overview

The 4th T20I between India and South Africa is set to be a thrilling encounter as the hosts look to extend their dominance in the series, while the Proteas aim to stage a comeback. After a dominant 8-wicket win in the 3rd T20I, India have taken control of the series and will be keen to make it 3-0 in Lucknow.

The match will be played at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, a venue that has transformed from a below-par track to a batting-friendly surface. With the pitch expected to offer good batting conditions and some support for spinners, both teams will be looking to post around 170-180 runs.

Team Form & Key Players

India

India have been in excellent form, winning all three T20Is in the series. Their balanced squad and clinical execution have been the key to their success.

• Captain: Suryakumar Yadav
• Vice-Captain: Shubman Gill
• Top Batsman: Tilak Varma (114 runs in 3 matches)
• Top Bowler: Varun Chakravarthy (6 wickets in 3 matches)

Key Players to Watch:

• Shubman Gill – Consistent opener with quick starts
• Hardik Pandya – All-rounder with match-winning potential
• Abhishek Sharma – Emerging talent with explosive strokeplay
• Varun Chakravarthy – Spin wizard with match-changing spells

South Africa

South Africa, despite the early setbacks in the series, still have a strong squad and the ability to turn the momentum in their favor.

• Captain: Aiden Markram
• Wicketkeeper: Quinton de Kock
• Top Batsman: Aiden Markram (104 runs in 3 matches)
• Top Bowler: Lungi Ngidi (6 wickets in 3 matches)

Key Players to Watch:

• Aiden Markram – Steadfast opener with a flair for big shots
• Dewald Brevis – Explosive middle-order batter
• Lungi Ngidi – Deadly fast bowler with sharp yorkers
• Anrich Nortje – Power-packed pacer with swing and pace

Head-to-Head Record

• Total Matches: 34
• India Wins: 20
• South Africa Wins: 13
• No Result: 1

India hold the upper hand in the historical head-to-head, but South Africa has shown resilience and can still pull off an upset if they play to their potential.

Ground & Pitch Conditions

• Average 1st Innings Score: 170-180
• Pitch Type: Batting-friendly with some assistance for spinners in the middle overs
• Weather Conditions:
  • Rain: No chance
  • Temperature: High of 19°C, Low of 11°C
  • Wind: Light breeze

The conditions are ideal for batting, and teams are expected to chase in the 190-200 range if they bat second.

Probable Playing XIs

India

1. Abhishek Sharma
2. Shubman Gill
3. Suryakumar Yadav (c)
4. Tilak Varma
5. Hardik Pandya
6. Shivam Dube
7. Jitesh Sharma (wk)
8. Harshit Rana
9. Kuldeep Yadav
10. Varun Chakravarthy
11. Arshdeep Singh

South Africa

1. Reeza Hendricks
2. Quinton de Kock (wk)
3. Aiden Markram (c)
4. Dewald Brevis
5. Tristan Stubbs
6. Donovan Ferreira
7. Marco Jansen
8. Corbin Bosch
9. Anrich Nortje
10. Lungi Ngidi
11. Ottneil Baartman

Match Prediction

India are expected to go into this match as favorites, having already taken a 2-0 lead in the series. Their balanced batting lineup and world-class spin attack give them the edge, especially on a pitch that favors batting.

However, South Africa's firepower and ability to chase down big totals cannot be ignored. If they can post a competitive total and execute well with the bat, they could pull off an upset.

Score Prediction:

• India (batting first): 195/6
• South Africa (chasing): 188/8
• Result: India win by 7 runs

Players to Watch

• IND: Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh
• SA: Aiden Markram, Dewald Brevis, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen

Broadcast Details

• India (Domestic): Star Sports, JioCinema
• South Africa (Domestic): SuperSport
• Global (USA & Canada): Willow TV, Sling TV
• Global (UK): TNT Sports
• Global (Australia): Kayo Sports, Fox Cricket
• Global (Pakistan): Tapmad

Final Word

With the series in their grasp, India will look to seal the deal in Lucknow. South Africa, however, will not go down without a fight. This match promises high-octane cricket, with both teams vying for supremacy in the series. Stay tuned for a blockbuster 4th T20I between India and South Africa!

#INDvSA #T20I #CricTracker #IndiaVsSouthAfrica
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