Rajeev Shukla left red-faced as toxic Lucknow smog forces 4th T20I abandonment

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) faced criticism after the fourth T20I between India and South Africa in Lucknow was abandoned due to poor visibility. BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla was seen on the field in discussions with officials, appearing frustrated as the situation remained out of control.

The abandonment sparked fresh debate about the timing and location of international fixtures in northern India during winter. Notably, this was the third match of the series staged in the region despite smog and weather risks. The second and third T20Is were played in New Chandigarh and Dharamsala, respectively.

Lucknow Smog Forces India vs South Africa Match Abandonment

The match was scheduled to start at 7 pm, with the toss at 6:30 pm in Lucknow. However, officials were forced to delay proceedings as conditions worsened.

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Umpires conducted the first inspection about 20 minutes after the scheduled toss time. As visibility failed to improve, inspections continued through the evening. Nearly six checks were carried out before the match was finally called off at 9:30 pm.

Fans inside the stadium and those watching from home grew frustrated. Social media was filled with photos and videos showing smog covering the ground, with the Air Quality Index staying above 400 throughout the night.

Hardik Pandya wore a surgical mask during the initial warm-up. After the second delay, players stopped warming up and returned to the dressing rooms. By around 9 pm, many spectators began leaving the stadium as uncertainty over the start of play dragged on.

Rajeev Shukla Seen Frustrated During Visibility Checks in Lucknow

During one of the visibility checks in Lucknow, Rajeev Shukla was seen walking towards the middle of the ground where the umpires were inspecting conditions. He appeared clearly frustrated while speaking with the officials, as no decision could be taken.

The tough conditions also surprised the players. India spinner Varun Chakravarthy said that he had never played at a venue this cold before and found it difficult to cope with the conditions.

“I’ve never played at a ground this cold, so I did find it quite challenging,” Chakravarthy said.

The abandonment again put the BCCI under pressure over its planning. Air quality had already been a concern earlier in the series, with the match in New Chandigarh played in severe pollution and the Dharamsala game held when air quality was rated poor.

They Should’ve Scheduled the Game in Thiruvananthapuram - Shashi Tharoor

The long delay and eventual abandonment of the match in Lucknow sparked reactions from the cricket world. Congress leader and cricket fan Shashi Tharoor shared his disappointment on social media over the situation.

Tharoor said that fans were left waiting without any clarity while conditions continued to worsen. He also questioned the decision to host an international match in Lucknow under such circumstances. Tharoor added that the game could have been scheduled in Thiruvananthapuram.

“Cricket fans have been waiting in vain for the #INDVSSAODI to start in Lucknow. But thanks to dense smog, pervasive in most north Indian cities, and an AQI of 411, visibility is too poor to permit a game of cricket. They should’ve scheduled the game in Thiruvananthapuram, where AQI is about 68 right now!” he wrote on X.

Cricket fans have been waiting in vain for the #INDVSSAODI to start in Lucknow. But thanks to dense smog, pervasive in most north Indian cities, and an AQI of 411, visibility is too poor to permit a game of cricket. They should’ve scheduled the game in Thiruvananthapuram, where…

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 17, 2025

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