Following a bustling day of IPL auctions in Abu Dhabi, the spotlight now shifts decisively back to the international arena as India and South Africa prepare for a crucial showdown. The two cricketing giants will lock horns in the fourth T20 International at Lucknow's Ekana Stadium on Wednesday, with the series tantalizingly poised.
Series on the Line for Suryakumar's Men
Having secured a convincing victory in Dharamsala, India currently leads the five-match series 2-1. This penultimate clash presents a golden opportunity for captain Suryakumar Yadav and his team to clinch the series with a game to spare. The momentum is firmly with the Men in Blue, who will be eager to wrap up the contest on home soil.
Team News and Probable Playing Elevens
The Indian camp has been forced into at least one change, with all-rounder Axar Patel ruled out for the remainder of the series due to injury. Another major point of discussion is the availability of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the third game. While there has been no official word from the BCCI, all-rounder Shivam Dube indicated he "thinks" Bumrah is likely to return to the playing eleven.
Based on current form and squad dynamics, the probable line-ups for the high-stakes encounter are:
India Probable XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Harshit Rana/Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy.
South Africa Probable XI: Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, Ottneil Baartman.
How to Watch: Live Telecast and Streaming Details
Fans across the nation can catch all the live action from the Ekana Cricket Stadium. The India vs South Africa 4th T20I will be telecast live on the Star Sports Network channels. For those preferring digital platforms, the live streaming of the match will be available on the JioCinema app and website, ensuring viewers don't miss a single moment of this potential series-decider.
As both teams finalize their strategies, all eyes will be on Lucknow. India will aim to capitalize on their lead and series advantage, while South Africa, known for their fighting spirit, will be desperate to level the series and force a grand finale in Bengaluru.
