Guwahati: The first match of the two-match Test series between India and South Africa will be played on November 14th at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The second Test will be played on November 22nd at the Barsapara International Stadium in Guwahati. A major change has been made to this second Test match, the timings and sessions have been changed.
Session Changes For The Guwahati Test
According to reports, for the first time in the history of Test cricket, the order of the lunch and tea breaks in a daytime match in the Guwahati Test will be changed. This means that the tea break will now be followed by the lunch break. This decision was made due to the earlier sunrise and sunset in the eastern part of the country, allowing players to play more in natural light.
🚨 NEW SESSION TIMING FOR INDIA VS SOUTH AFRICA 2ND TEST IN GUWAHATI.🚨
1st session – 9am to 11am.
2nd session – 11.20am to 1.20pm.
3rd session- 2pm to 4pm.
– Tea will be taken after the 1st session and Lunch after the 2nd session. (Express Sports). pic.twitter.com/OIUS8dyzX0
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 30, 2025
Full Schedule of the New Session
- The Guwahati Test will begin at 9:00 AM. The first session will run from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, followed by a 20-minute tea break.
- The second session will be played from 11:20 am to 1:20 pm.
- This will be followed by a 40-minute lunch break from 1:20 pm to 2:00 pm.
- The final session will be played from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
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The New Session Sequence Is As Follows
- First session: 9:00 am to 11:00 am
- Tea break: 11:00 am to 11:20 am
- Second session: 11:20 am to 1:20 pm
- Lunch break: 1:20 pm to 2:00 pm
- Third session: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
BCCI Explains The Reason
Speaking to media, a BCCI official said, “The sun sets early in Guwahati, so matches will have to start earlier. To allow more time on the field, we have advanced the tea break. This will be the first time we have changed the order of tea and lunch.”
Both the BCCI and Cricket South Africa (CSA) have approved this proposal.
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Traditional Test Match Timings in India
Typically, Test matches in India begin at 9:30 am, with the first session lasting until 11:30 am. This is followed by a 40-minute lunch break and a second session in the afternoon, followed by a 20-minute tea break. The third session usually runs from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm.
Match officials have the discretion to add an additional half-hour as needed to complete the 90 overs per day. Like other countries around the world, match timings in India are adjusted to suit local conditions.
Such Changes Have Happened Before
The BCCI has previously made similar changes to Ranji Trophy matches, mandating an early sunset in the eastern states. This time, adopting this new timing for the Guwahati Test is considered a unique experiment in the history of Indian cricket.