India and South Africa will play the 4th T20I on 17 December 2025 at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. This is a crucial match in the five-match series.
India currently leads the series 2–1. They won the first match by a massive 101 runs. South Africa fought back in the second game and won by 51 runs.
India regained control in the third T20I with a comfortable 7-wicket victory. Now they are just one win away from sealing the series.
For India, winning this match means they cannot lose the series. For South Africa, this is a must-win game. If they lose, the series is over.
South Africa needs to win both remaining matches to claim the series. The pressure is clearly on the visiting team now.
India will look to use home advantage and close out the series. Their bowling attack has been strong, and batters like Tilak Varma are in good form.
IND vs SA 4th T20I Dream11 Prediction

South Africa has shown they can compete. Their batting lineup fired in the second T20I when they scored 213 runs. They need similar performances again.
Ekana Stadium, Lucknow: What to Expect in a T20I?
The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium in Lucknow is not a typical high-scoring venue. It has hosted several T20Is and regular IPL matches.
This ground is known for producing low-scoring games. The pitch often plays slow and helps bowlers who vary their pace.
Spinners enjoy bowling here. The black soil surface offers good turn and grip. Batters find it difficult to time the ball freely.
The bounce is lower than most Indian grounds. This makes stroke-making challenging, especially in the middle overs. Big shots require perfect timing.
Teams have found it easier to defend totals here rather than chase them. The average first innings score is around 151 runs.
India has played multiple international matches at this venue across all formats. However, India and South Africa have never faced each other here in a T20I before.
This makes the contest fresh and unpredictable. Both teams will need to adjust quickly to the conditions.
Key Match Details at a Glance
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | India vs South Africa 4th T20I |
| Date | 17 December 2025 |
| Time | 7:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| Tournament | South Africa tour of India 2025 |
| Series Score | India leads 2–1 |
Pitch Behaviour & Scoring Pattern at Ekana
The pitch at Ekana Stadium is a slow surface. It is made of black soil, which grips the ball and slows down the pace.
The average first innings score at this venue is 151 runs. The average second innings score drops to just 126 runs. This shows how difficult chasing becomes.
Spinners are the key bowlers here. The pitch offers turn and variable bounce in the middle overs. Batters struggle to get going against quality spin bowling.
Teams batting first have had a slight edge in previous matches. Setting a target of 150-160 runs can be competitive on this surface.
The pitch becomes even slower as the match progresses. By the second innings, the ball does not come onto the bat easily.
Tactical pace bowlers who use slower balls and cutters also find success. Raw pace alone does not work on this pitch.
Death overs batting requires smart shot selection. Big hits are possible but need excellent timing and placement.
Weather Conditions & Dew Impact
The weather in Lucknow during this time of year is cool. Evening temperatures are expected to be around 11°C during match time.
Humidity levels will be relatively high in the evening hours. Wind speed is predicted to be between 10-14 km/h. There is 0% chance of rain.
Dew is a major factor in night matches at Ekana. As humidity rises, dew develops on the field during the second innings.
This makes the ball wet and slippery. Bowlers find it hard to grip the ball properly. The ball also skids onto the bat faster.
While dew can help batters initially, it also makes fielding difficult. The ball becomes slippery and hard to control.
Spinners particularly struggle when dew sets in. The wet ball does not grip the surface as much. Their effectiveness reduces significantly.
This is one reason why teams prefer to bowl first here. They want to use spinners effectively before dew becomes a problem.
Toss Factor: Bat or Bowl First?
At Ekana Stadium, the toss plays an important role in deciding match outcomes. Captains generally prefer to bowl first when they win the toss.
The main reason is the dew factor under lights. Defending a total becomes harder when the ball gets wet in the second innings.
In T20 matches at this venue, the average first innings score is around 150 runs. Teams chasing have won slightly more games than teams batting first.
However, the numbers are close. Teams batting first win about 48% of matches here. Teams chasing win about 52% of matches.
The pitch condition and weather on match day will influence the toss decision. If dew is expected to be heavy, bowling first makes sense.
India has a strong bowling attack with quality spinners like Varun Chakravarthy. They can exploit the slow-pitch conditions effectively.
South Africa also has good bowling options. Marco Jansen and George Linde can trouble Indian batters on a slow surface.
Whichever captain wins the toss will likely choose to bowl first based on recent trends at this ground.
Team News & Injury Update
India has one significant injury concern going into this match. Axar Patel has been ruled out of the remaining T20Is due to illness.
Axar is an important all-rounder who provides balance with both bat and ball. His absence is a loss for the Indian team.
Shahbaz Ahmed has been named as his replacement in the squad. Shahbaz is a left-arm spinner who can also bat in the lower middle order.
However, it is not certain if Shahbaz will play in this match. India might prefer Washington Sundar or continue with their current combination.
South Africa has no fresh injury updates. Their squad remains unchanged from the previous match.
Both teams will announce their final playing eleven at the toss. India might make one or two changes depending on team balance.
Probable Playing XI: India vs South Africa
India Probable XI:
Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Harshit Rana or Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy
India has multiple options for their final eleven. They might play Washington Sundar as a third spinner on this pitch.
Harshit Rana could be preferred if they want extra pace bowling options. The decision will depend on pitch inspection before the match.
South Africa Probable XI:
Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Aiden Markram (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, Ottneil Baartman
South Africa is likely to stick with the same combination that played in the previous match.
Their batting depends heavily on the top order. Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, and Tristan Stubbs need to fire.
George Linde and Marco Jansen provide valuable all-round contributions. Their performances will be crucial on a slow pitch.
Head-to-Head Record: Recent T20I Meetings
India and South Africa have played several T20Is recently. Here are their last five meetings:
- 3rd T20I (14 Dec 2025): India 120/3 beat South Africa 117 – India won by 7 wickets
- 2nd T20I (11 Dec 2025): South Africa 213/4 beat India 162/10 – South Africa won by 51 runs
- 1st T20I (9 Dec 2025): India 175/6 beat South Africa 74/10 – India won by 101 runs
- T20I in Nov 2024 (15 Nov 2024): India 283/1 beat South Africa 148/10 – India won by 135 runs
- T20I in Nov 2024 (13 Nov 2024): India 219/6 beat South Africa 208/7 – India won by 11 runs
India has dominated this head-to-head record. They have won four out of the last five T20Is between these teams.
South Africa’s only recent win came in the second match of this current series. That shows they can beat India when they play well.
India’s bowling has been particularly impressive. They bowled out South Africa for just 74 runs in the first T20I of this series.
Varun Chakravarthy has been the standout performer with the ball. He is currently the number one-ranked T20I bowler in the world.
Top Fantasy Picks for IND vs SA 4th T20I
| Player | Team | Role | Reason for Selection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | India | Batter | Powerful top order hitter with 1080 T20I runs at strike rate of 189. Can score quick runs in powerplay. |
| Varun Chakravarthy | India | Bowler | Number one ranked T20I bowler with 50 wickets in 32 matches. Perfect for slow Lucknow pitch. |
| Shubman Gill | India | Batter | Not in excellent form currently but has incredible T20 ability with 840 runs in 33 matches. Due for a big score. |
| Aiden Markram | South Africa | Batter | Scored a significant 61 runs in the last T20I. Will carry that momentum forward into this match. |
| Tristan Stubbs | South Africa | Batter | Over 800 T20I runs with ability to score quick runs. Looking to score his first big innings in this series. |
| Tilak Varma | India | Batter | In excellent recent form. Plays spin well and can anchor the innings on slow pitches. |
| Hardik Pandya | India | All-rounder | Provides value with both bat and ball. Important finisher and death bowler for India. |
| Arshdeep Singh | India | Bowler | Lethal in powerplay with new ball. Also bowls well in death overs. Consistent wicket-taker. |
| Marco Jansen | South Africa | All-rounder | Tall left-arm pacer who can swing the ball. Also contributes with the bat in lower order. |
| George Linde | South Africa | All-rounder | Left-arm spinner who can control middle overs. Also capable batter who can hit boundaries. |
These players offer the best combination of recent form, skills suited to the pitch, and fantasy points potential.
Varun Chakravarthy is a must-have pick. On a slow Lucknow pitch, he will be extremely difficult to score against.
Abhishek Sharma provides explosive starts. His strike rate of 189 in T20Is shows his boundary-hitting ability.
Tilak Varma has been India’s most consistent batter in this series. He plays with maturity and can accelerate when needed.
Aiden Markram’s 61 in the last match shows he is in good touch. He reads slow pitches well and rotates strike effectively.
Dream11 Team Strategy (Balanced XI)
For this ind vs sa 4 t20 dream11 prediction, we suggest a balanced team with focus on bowlers due to pitch conditions.
Wicketkeeper (1): Quinton de Kock – Experienced keeper-batter who can score quick runs at the top of the order.
Batters (3):
- Abhishek Sharma – Explosive opener with high strike rate
- Tilak Varma – In-form batter who handles pressure well
- Aiden Markram – Consistent performer and South African captain
All-Rounders (2):
- Hardik Pandya – Key player with bat and ball for India
- Marco Jansen – Provides height advantage and can swing the ball early
Bowlers (5):
- Varun Chakravarthy – Must-have captain option, number one T20I bowler
- Arshdeep Singh – Wicket-taker in powerplay and death overs
- George Linde – Left-arm spinner effective on a slow pitch
- Anrich Nortje – Experienced South African fast bowler
- Washington Sundar – Third spinner option if he plays, otherwise pick another pacer
Captain: Varun Chakravarthy – Most consistent performer, perfect for slow pitch conditions
Vice-Captain: Abhishek Sharma or Hardik Pandya – Both provide dual value and consistency
This ind vs sa 4th t20 dream11 team focuses on having five bowling options because Ekana pitch assists bowlers significantly.
Three spinners make sense on this surface. Varun Chakravarthy, George Linde, and potentially Washington Sundar can control the game.
The batting combination provides a mix of aggression and stability. Abhishek provides quick starts while Tilak and Markram provide consistency.
Final Match & Fantasy Summary
- India leads series 2–1 and needs one win to seal the series
- South Africa must win to keep series alive and force decider
- Ekana Stadium in Lucknow favors bowlers, especially spinners
- Average first innings score is 151 runs, second innings average is 126 runs
- Dew factor makes defending totals difficult under lights
- Team winning toss will likely bowl first based on venue trends
- Varun Chakravarthy is must-have fantasy captain with 50 T20I wickets
- Abhishek Sharma provides explosive starts with strike rate of 189
- Tilak Varma is in best form among Indian batters in this series
- Aiden Markram scored 61 in last match and carries momentum
- Pick minimum three spinners in fantasy team for this pitch
- Hardik Pandya and Marco Jansen provide all-round value
- Avoid players who struggle against spin on slow pitches
- Focus on bowlers who take wickets rather than economy-focused picks
- Temperature will be cool at 11°C with high humidity expected
Disclaimer:
This IND vs SA 4th T20I Dream11 Prediction on 17 Dec 2025 is based on statistical analysis and pitch conditions.
Fantasy sports involve financial risk.
Please play responsibly and within your limits.
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