Historic first in Guwahati: India vs South Africa Test to follow new session format
The India vs South Africa Test in Guwahati will follow a new schedule with an early start and the tea break before lunch. Here’s why the BCCI made this unusual change.
Last Updated: 03.24 PM, Oct 30, 2025
The upcoming Test match between India and South Africa in Guwahati is set to mark a first in Indian cricket history. In a rare scheduling move, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has approved a change in the traditional break sequence, with the tea interval taking place before lunch. The decision, aimed at adjusting to local daylight conditions, has created buzz among fans and cricket historians as it overturns a convention followed for over a century in Test cricket.
A unique schedule to tackle early sunsets
The Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, hosting its maiden Test match, faces unique geographical challenges compared to other Indian venues. Located in the country’s easternmost region, the city experiences significantly earlier sunrises and sunsets. To make the most of available daylight, officials decided to start play at 9:00 AM IST and swap the order of the breaks.
Under the revised plan, the tea break will now be taken around 11:00 AM, followed by play until 1:20 PM, and lunch will be served afterward. This adjustment ensures that the final session ends by 4:00 PM, avoiding the fading light that could otherwise interrupt play.
BCCI sources confirmed that the decision was made in consultation with match officials, broadcasters, and both teams to maintain maximum playing time. “The reason to have early tea is because Guwahati witnesses early sunset and there is early start too. This will be the first time we have decided to change the Tea session as time will be saved to get extra game time on the field,” a source in the board told the national daily.
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Interestingly, this isn’t the first time a similar format has been tested. Ranji Trophy matches in Assam and Meghalaya have occasionally used early schedules to manage daylight, but this will be the first time such a structure is implemented in an international Test.
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