On December 17, 2025, the fourth T20I match between India and South Africa at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow was abandoned without a single ball being bowled due to dense fog and hazardous visibility, leaving thousands of fans disappointed.
The umpires made several inspections until 9:30 pm but found the conditions unsafe for play. Hardik Pandya wearing a mask on the field resulted in poor AQI levels. This was India’s first major international match which was canceled only due to fog.
BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia clarified that tickets and refunds are managed by the host Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA), as the board only grants hosting rights.
UPCA immediately announced full refunds. Those purchasing tickets online will automatically receive a refund from the original payment method, and updates will be sent to their registered email. Offline ticket holders will have to visit the stadium box office (designated gate) on the scheduled dates and produce the ticket and ID for verification.
As per BCCI policy, when there is no game a full refund (minus fees) is given. India lead the series 2-1 ahead of the decider in Ahmedabad on December 19.
The incident has reignited the debate over scheduling of matches in winter in north India, although Saikia described it as an “extraordinary” incident. This series will help in the preparations for T20 World Cup 2026. Fans are advised to check UPCA channels for refund timeline.
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