IND vs SA 4th T20I Preview: Can Suryakumar Find Form in Must-Win Clash?

IND vs SA 4th T20I: The Indian and South African cricket teams are currently playing a five-match T20 series. The host Indian team leads the series 2-1. Team India started the series with a win in Cuttack.

However, the team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, suffered a defeat in Mullanpur. India then regained the lead with a victory in Dharamshala. Therefore, the fourth match has become crucial for both teams.

Suryakumar Yadav missed a chance to return to form in the last match

In the third match, Suryakumar had a good opportunity to regain the form that made him the world's top batsman, as India was chasing a small target of 118 runs. However, he squandered this opportunity and was dismissed after scoring just 12 runs. The shots that once defined his dominance are no longer yielding consistent results, and the Dharamshala match was no different, as he was dismissed playing his signature pick-up shot, highlighting his continued poor form.

Surya is not worried about his form

However, Suryakumar said he is not struggling with poor form. After India's victory in Dharamshala on Sunday, he said, "I'm batting brilliantly in the nets. I'm trying to do everything that's in my control. When the runs are supposed to come, they will definitely come. I'm not struggling with poor form, but I'm certainly not scoring runs."

Statistics tell a different story

However, the statistics tell a worrying story. The Indian captain has been struggling to find his rhythm for over a year. His average in this format this season is less than 15. Furthermore, he hasn't scored a single half-century in 2025, which is the longest such period in his career. During this time, he has only managed to face more than 20 balls twice. With less than two months to go before the T20 World Cup, the defending champions will want their captain and key batsman to return to form as soon as possible.

Gill's performance is also a cause for concern

Vice-captain Shubman Gill's performance has also been quite poor. Including Shubman Gill in the opening slot has destabilized India's top order. Gill has replaced the well-established Sanju Samson. The Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman was initially sent lower down the batting order despite forming an effective partnership with Abhishek Sharma and was eventually dropped from the team.

Gill has shown his class in other formats, but in T20 Internationals, he is yet to display the confident batsman he is in Tests and ODIs. He managed only 28 runs while chasing a low target on Sunday, which has not eased concerns ahead of the World Cup. India now have only seven matches left in this format before the World Cup.

Axar and Bumrah are unavailable

With Axar Patel ruled out of the series due to illness, India has included Shahbaz Ahmed in the squad, which could give Kuldeep Yadav more opportunities. There is still uncertainty regarding Jasprit Bumrah's availability as he missed the previous match due to personal reasons. In his absence, Arshdeep Singh was chosen as the Player of the Match in the last game, while Harshit Rana also provided good support in Dharamshala. India currently leads the five-match series 2-1.

IND vs SA 4th T20I Live Streaming Details

When will the fourth T20 match between India and South Africa be played?

The fourth T20 match between India and South Africa will be played on Wednesday, December 17.

Where will the fourth T20 match between India and South Africa be played?

The fourth T20 match between India and South Africa will be played at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

What time will the fourth T20 match between India and South Africa start?

The fourth T20 match between India and South Africa will start at 7 PM IST (Indian Standard Time), with the toss taking place half an hour earlier at 6:30 PM.

On which TV channel can you watch the India vs South Africa fourth T20 match?

The live broadcast of the fourth T20 match between India and South Africa will be available on the Star Sports network.

Where can you watch the live streaming of the India vs South Africa fourth T20 match?

Fans can watch the live streaming of the fourth T20 match between India and South Africa on the JioCinema app.

IND vs SA Playing 11

Indian Team
Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar.

South Africa Team
Aiden Markram (captain), Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Donovan Ferreira (wicketkeeper), Tristan Stubbs, Ottniel Baartman, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje.

Read More: IND vs SA 4th T20I: Pitch Report, Head-to-Head, Playing XI & Match Prediction