Former India batter Robin Uthappa expressed his displeasure with the on-field umpires for the continuous delays ahead of India's fourth T20I against South Africa in Lucknow on December 17, 2025.  

With the toss delayed owing to severe fog, match officials conducted various inspections, including one at about 8:00 p.m., before deciding on another assessment half an hour later. The inspections continued before the game was called off at the cutoff time.

The lengthy wait left Uthappa, who was on commentary duty at the ground, clearly dissatisfied, questioning the reasoning behind extending the delay when visibility showed no indications of improving.

The toss, originally scheduled for 6:30 p.m. IST, was delayed for a check at 6:50 p.m., followed by additional inspections at 7:30, 8:00, and 8:30 p.m. due to fog.

Players from both teams initially remained on the field, going through their warm-up exercises before returning to the locker rooms. Match officials remained alert to shifting conditions, with safety being the primary issue.

During the fog-plagued fourth T20I, Robin Uthappa publicly questioned the umpires' frequent inspections, clearly frustrated on television as the protracted delay continued with no discernible improvement in conditions.

"I’m actually not even listening to you because I’m so befuddled by the umpire’s decision right now. How do they think it’s going to get better as the night wears on? It’s not going to get better; it’s only going to get worse. It’s counterintuitive. What are they actually thinking, and what do they think will happen in half an hour that hasn’t happened over the last hour and a half? It’s quite confusing that they’ve still decided to give it half an hour more," Uthappa said on JioHotstar.

His fellow panelist, Dale Steyn of South Africa, admitted uncertainty on the umpires' standards and recommended more clarity, which would help players and fans understand why play was still being delayed despite the conditions being doable.

"I was going to say I’d love to get one of the umpires. Sometimes they say there’s another inspection at 8:30, but I don’t know all the rules they’re looking at. As a player, you just play the game. It would be informative to know what they’re assessing and thinking. If they walk past again, we should grab them and ask for clarity. As a former player, I feel we could play in this, but obviously there’s something in the rules that I’m not fully aware of," Steyn said.

Uthappa remained unconvinced by the continued delays, drawing from his playing days to argue that matches have gone ahead in far tougher conditions.

"I’ve played first-class games in far worse conditions, with a lot more fog. This is way better than that. I don’t see it getting better," Uthappa added.

The series remains 2-1 in India’s favor, and the final T20I will be played on December 19 in Ahmedabad.