Table of Contents

India made a strong comeback in Dharamsala, beating South Africa by 7 wickets. With this win, India now leads the five-match series 2-1. The bowlers were the real heroes, stopping South Africa at a low score of 117. After that, the Indian batters chased down the target without any trouble.

Also Read: 4th T20I: Pressure mounts on Suryakumar Yadav as India eye series win over South Africa

While South African captain Aiden Markram tried his best with a fifty, the rest of his team struggled against Varun Chakravarthy’s spin and Arshdeep Singh’s swing.

For India, Abhishek Sharma finally found his form, giving the team a good start. Now, both teams have reached Lucknow for a very important match. If India wins here, they will win the series. On the other hand, South Africa must win this game to keep the series alive and take it to the final match in Ahmedabad.

Head-to-Head Record

Total Matches Played: 34, India Won: 20, South Africa Won: 13, No Result: 1

Key Players to Watch (India)

Varun Chakravarthy has been a nightmare for South Africa's middle-order batters. He bowled beautifully in the last game to stop the runs. Since the Lucknow pitch usually helps spinners, he will be India's main weapon. Abhishek Sharma looked good and confident in the last match. With the series on the line, he will want to turn his good start into a big score.

In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh is leading the pace attack well. His ability to swing the new ball and bowl yorkers at the end makes him very important for the team.

India Predicted XI

Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma(w), Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarty, Arshdeep Singh

Key Players to Watch (South Africa)

The Proteas captain was the only one who batted well in the 3rd T20I. Aiden Markram needs to lead from the front again, but this time he needs more support from his teammates if they want to stand a chance of levelling the series. Heinrich Klaasen has been very quiet this series, which is rare for him. He is known for playing spin well, so his battle against Indian spinners in the middle overs could decide the match.

Marco Jansen brings pace and bounce. South Africa needs him to take early wickets. If he can break India's batting lineup early, South Africa has a chance.

South Africa Predicted XI

Reeza Hendricks, Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Lutho Sipamla, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman

Match overview India vs South Africa 4th T20I

Date: December 17, 2025

Time: 7:00 PM IST

Venue: Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

Ekana Stadium Pitch Report

The pitch at the Ekana Stadium usually helps bowlers, especially spinners, because the ball grips and turns. However, in recent night games, batting has become a bit easier. A score of around 160-170 could be enough to win here. The captain winning the toss might choose to bowl first to avoid the dew effect later in the evening.

Lucknow Weather Forecast

The weather in Lucknow is expected to be clear and cool. The temperature will drop in the evening, and there is no chance of rain ruining the game. It will be perfect weather for cricket.

India vs South Africa Live Streaming Details

You can watch the match live on the Star Sports Network. Fans can also stream the match online on the JioHotstar app and website.