India and South Africa will face each other in the 4th T20I on 17 December 2025.
The match will be played at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.
India currently holds a 2–1 lead in this five-match series. They won the opening T20I by 101 runs, which was a dominant performance.
South Africa bounced back strongly in the second match. They beat India by 51 runs to level the series at 1–1.
India regained the lead by winning the third T20I. They chased down the target and won by 7 wickets in that game.
This 4th T20I is a crucial match for both teams. India needs just one more win to seal the series with one match remaining.
For South Africa, this is a must-win situation. If they lose this match, they cannot win the series anymore.
South Africa must win this match to keep the series alive. Then they would need to win the 5th T20I as well to claim the series.
IND vs SA 4th T20I Dream11 Prediction
India has a home advantage and momentum after winning the last match. South Africa is under pressure to perform and stay in the series.
Ekana Stadium, Lucknow: Playing Conditions Breakdown
The Ekana Stadium in Lucknow has hosted several T20 internationals and regular IPL matches. The venue has specific characteristics that affect how matches are played.
This ground is known for producing low-scoring games quite often. The pitch does not allow batters to score freely like on some other Indian grounds.
The surface at Ekana is a slow one. It is made of black soil, which grips the ball when it pitches.
Black soil pitches offer help to spinners throughout the match. The ball turns and grips the surface in the middle overs, especially.
The bounce at this venue is lower compared to typical Indian pitches. This makes timing difficult for batters who try to play big shots.
Bowlers who vary their pace do well here. Slower balls, cutters, and variations become effective weapons on this surface.
Fast bowlers who bowl at just one pace struggle on this pitch. They need to adjust their lengths and speeds to be effective.
Spinners play a major role in matches at Ekana Stadium. They can control the scoring rate and take wickets through the middle overs.
India has played multiple international matches at this venue across different formats. However, India and South Africa have never played a T20I against each other at Ekana before.
This means both teams will be experiencing this matchup for the first time at this venue. Neither side has previous data from head-to-head matches here.
Complete Match Information
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 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 Report: What the Numbers Say?
The pitch at Ekana Stadium provides clear data about scoring patterns. Understanding these numbers helps predict how the match might unfold.
The average first innings score at this ground is 151 runs. This shows that teams batting first typically score around 150 runs.
The average second innings score is significantly lower at 126 runs. This is a difference of 25 runs between the first and second innings.
This data indicates that scoring becomes harder in the second innings. Teams chasing face more difficulty than teams setting targets.
The pitch is categorized as a slow surface. It offers considerable help to spin bowling throughout the match.
Spinners are favored at this venue due to the black soil surface. The ball grips and turns, which makes batting against quality spin challenging.
The surface provides a slower bounce with the ball not coming onto the bat quickly. Batters need to wait longer and adjust their timing.
Teams batting first have had a slight edge in previous matches at Ekana. The statistics support the strategy of posting a total rather than chasing.
The pitch type clearly favors tactical bowling over power hitting. Bowlers who use variations and change pace intelligently succeed here.
Weather Conditions & Dew Factor Impact
Weather plays an important role in evening matches at Ekana Stadium. The conditions expected on 17 December will affect the game.
The temperature during match time will be cool at around 11°C. This is typical winter evening weather in Lucknow during December.
Humidity levels are expected to be relatively high in the evening hours. High humidity combined with cool temperatures creates conditions for dew formation.
Wind speed is predicted to be moderate at 10–14 km/h. This should not significantly impact the flight of the ball.
The rain chance is 0 percent for this match. There will be no interruption from the weather in terms of rain.
Dew is a major factor at Ekana Stadium for night matches. As the match progresses into the second innings, dew develops on the field.
The dew makes the ball wet and slippery in the hands of bowlers. Spinners particularly struggle to grip the wet ball properly.
Fast bowlers also find it harder to control the ball when dew sets in. The ball skids on faster, which can actually help batters.
However, fielders struggle to grip the wet ball during the second innings. This can lead to misfields and dropped catches.
The dew factor is one reason why teams prefer to bowl first at this venue. They want to utilize their spinners effectively before the dew becomes heavy.
Toss Influence at Ekana Stadium
The toss decision at Ekana Stadium follows clear patterns based on historical data. Captains generally make similar choices when they win the toss.
Teams winning the toss choose to bowl first 68% of the time at Ekana. This shows a strong preference for chasing.
The main reason for this preference is the dew factor under lights. Defending becomes harder when the ball gets wet in the second innings.
However, actual match results show a different picture. Teams batting first win 54% of matches at this venue.
Teams bowling first and then chasing win 46% of matches here. This means batting first actually has a slightly better success rate.
The average first innings score is 151 runs, while the average chase is 126 runs. This 25-run difference shows chasing is harder.
Despite the dew factor helping batters with ball skidding on, the slow pitch makes scoring difficult overall. The pitch nature outweighs the dew advantage.
Teams chasing face the challenge of a slower pitch that gets harder to bat on. The dew helps but does not completely overcome the pitch difficulty.
For this match, the captain winning the toss will likely bowl first based on traditional preference. However, batting first has better success statistics.
Team News and Injury Update
India has one confirmed change to their squad for the remaining matches in this series. This affects their team composition options.
Axar Patel has been ruled out of the remaining T20I matches. He is unavailable due to illness and cannot participate further.
Axar Patel is a left-arm spinning all-rounder. His absence removes a key balance option from India’s squad.
Shahbaz Ahmed has been named as the replacement for Axar Patel. He is also a left-arm spinner who can bat in the lower middle order.
Whether Shahbaz Ahmed will play in this 4th T20I is not confirmed. India might choose other options based on team combination needs.
Washington Sundar is another spinner option available to India. He could play if India wants an extra spinning option on this slow pitch.
Harshit Rana is a pace bowling option available. India might include him if they prefer more pace variety.
South Africa has no reported injury concerns or forced changes. Their squad remains the same as in previous matches.
Both teams will announce their final playing eleven at the toss. Some tactical changes might be made based on pitch inspection.
Probable Playing XI for India and South Africa
India Probable Playing 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 flexibility in their final eleven. The choice between Harshit Rana and Washington Sundar depends on team strategy.
If India wants three spinners on this slow pitch, Washington Sundar will play. If they prefer pace variety, Harshit Rana gets the spot.
The batting order is settled with Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill opening. Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav form the middle-order core.
Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube provide all-rounder options. Jitesh Sharma is the wicketkeeper-batter.
The bowling attack is led by Varun Chakaravarthy, the number one-ranked T20I bowler. Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah handle pace duties.
South Africa Probable Playing 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 expected to field the same team that played the previous match. They have found a working combination.
Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram open the batting. Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, and Donovan Ferreira form the middle order.
George Linde and Marco Jansen are their key all-rounders. Both can bat and bowl effectively.
The pace attack includes Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, and Ottneil Baartman. George Linde provides the main spin option.
IND vs SA Recent T20I Results Overview
India and South Africa have played five T20I matches recently. These results show the pattern of performance between these teams.
- 3rd T20I (14 December 2025): India scored 120/3 and South Africa scored 117. India won by 7 wickets.
- 2nd T20I (11 December 2025): South Africa scored 213/4 and India scored 162/10. South Africa won by 51 runs.
- 1st T20I (9 December 2025): India scored 175/6 and South Africa scored 74/10. India won by 101 runs.
- T20I (15 November 2024): India scored 283/1 and South Africa scored 148/10. India won by 135 runs.
- T20I (13 November 2024): India scored 219/6 and South Africa scored 208/7. India won by 11 runs.
Out of these five matches, India has won four games. South Africa has won only one match which was the 2nd T20I of the current series.
India’s bowling performance in the 1st T20I was exceptional. They bowled out South Africa for just 74 runs.
South Africa’s best batting performance came in the 2nd T20I. They scored 213 runs which shows their capability when in form.
India’s batting has been more consistent across matches. They have posted competitive totals in most games.
Key Players Based on Current Form and Stats
| Player | Team | Role | Stats and Form Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | India | Batter | Powerful top-order hitter. Has scored 1080 T20I runs with a strike rate of 189. |
| Varun Chakravarthy | India | Bowler | Number one-ranked T20I bowler. Has taken 50 wickets in 32 T20I matches. |
| Shubman Gill | India | Batter | Has scored 840 runs in 33 T20I matches. Not in excellent form currently but capable of big innings. |
| Aiden Markram | South Africa | Batter | Scored a significant 61 runs in the last T20I. Carrying good momentum into this match. |
| Tristan Stubbs | South Africa | Batter | Has over 800 T20I runs. Capable of scoring quick runs. Looking to score first big innings in this series. |
These players have been selected based on the stats provided in the reference article. Their numbers show their importance to their respective teams.
Abhishek Sharma’s strike rate of 189 is exceptional in T20I cricket. His ability to score quickly makes him dangerous.
Varun Chakravarthy, being the number one T20I bowler, makes him crucial. On a slow Lucknow pitch, he will be extremely effective.
Shubman Gill has experience with 840 T20I runs. Even though his form is not excellent, his ability remains high.
Aiden Markram’s 61 runs in the last match show he is timing the ball well. This recent form makes him important for South Africa.
Tristan Stubbs has the runs on the board with over 800 in T20Is. He is due for a big score in this series.
Dream11 Team Planning Based on Conditions
For the ind vs sa 4 t20 dream11 prediction, team selection must consider the Ekana Stadium pitch conditions. The slow surface changes the value of different player types.
Spinners have increased value on this pitch. The black soil surface and low bounce favor spin bowling significantly.
A minimum of three spinners should be included in the Dream11 team. Varun Chakravarthy is a mandatory selection given his ranking and conditions.
George Linde from South Africa also becomes important. He is a left-arm spinner who will get assistance from the pitch.
The batting selections should focus on players who handle spin well. Tilak Varma has shown good technique against spin bowling.
Top order batters get more value because the pitch gets harder to bat on as the match progresses. Openers face better batting conditions.
All-rounders like Hardik Pandya and Marco Jansen provide double value. They contribute with both bat and ball.
Fast bowlers who use variations are more valuable than those who bowl at one pace. Arshdeep Singh uses slower balls effectively.
The team balance should lean toward bowlers on this surface. A 5-2-3-1 combination (bowlers-all-rounders-batters-wicketkeeper) suits the conditions.
Captain choice should be Varun Chakravarthy. He has the best chance of taking wickets on this pitch and is consistent.
Vice-captain can be Abhishek Sharma or Hardik Pandya. Both offer consistent fantasy point returns in different ways.
Final Match and Fantasy Summary
- India leads the five-match series 2–1 after three games
- India won matches by 101 runs and 7 wickets; lost one by 51 runs
- South Africa must win this match to keep series alive
- Ekana Stadium in Lucknow has slow black soil pitch
- Average first innings score is 151 runs at this venue
- Average second innings score drops to 126 runs
- Spinners are favored with the pitch offering turn and grip
- Match time temperature will be around 11°C with high humidity
- Dew factor develops in second innings making ball slippery
- Teams winning toss choose to bowl first 68% of the time
- However, teams batting first win 54% of matches here
- Axar Patel ruled out due to illness; Shahbaz Ahmed replaces him
- India may play Washington Sundar or Harshit Rana as final choice
- Varun Chakravarthy is ranked number one T20I bowler with 50 wickets
- Abhishek Sharma has 1080 T20I runs at strike rate of 189
- Aiden Markram scored 61 runs in last match showing good form
- India has won four out of last five T20Is against South Africa
- Pick minimum three spinners in Dream11 team for this pitch
- Varun Chakravarthy recommended as captain choice
- Team balance should favor bowlers over batters for this surface
Disclaimer:
This IND vs SA 4th T20I Dream11 Prediction on 17 Dec 2025 is based on statistical analysis of provided data and pitch conditions.
Fantasy cricket involves financial risk.
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Also Check:
- IND vs SA 1st T20I Dream11 Prediction
- IND vs SA 2nd T20I Dream11 Prediction
- IND vs SA 3rd T20I Dream11 Prediction Today