The second Test between India and South Africa at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati is about to serve cricket fans something unusual. Well, there will be a tea break before lunch. No, that’s not a typo. For the first time in international cricket, players will sip tea before they sit down for lunch.
The change comes due to Guwahati’s early sunrise and sunset, forcing organisers to tweak the traditional schedule to squeeze in the full day’s play.
Why did BCCI change session timings?
In most Test matches, the order is simple: toss, play, lunch, tea, stumps. But in Assam’s capital, that routine doesn’t quite fit. Sunrise happens early in the East, and so does sunset, meaning the light fades much faster than it does in, say, Mumbai or Delhi. To counter this, the BCCI and Cricket South Africa agreed to flip the schedule slightly.
As reported by The Indian Express, play at the Barsapara Stadium will start at 9 AM sharp, half an hour earlier than usual. The first session will run from 9 to 11 AM, followed by a 20-minute tea break. Yes, tea at 11 in the morning. The second session will go on from 11:20 AM to 1:20 PM, after which players will finally head for a 40-minute lunch break. The last session will run from 2 PM to 4 PM, giving everyone enough daylight to complete the day’s quota of 90 overs.
Traditional session timings in Test vs timings for IND vs SA 2nd Test
| Session | Traditional Timing | Timing | Break Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Session | 9:30-11:30 AM | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | – |
| Tea Break | 11:30 AM – 12:10 PM (Lunch) | 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM | 20 mins |
| 2nd Session | 12:10 PM – 2:10 PM | 11:20 AM – 1:20 PM | – |
| Lunch Break | 2:10 PM – 2:30 PM (Tea) | 1:20 PM – 2:00 PM | 40 mins |
| 3rd Session | 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | – |
According to BCCI officials, this minor shuffle ensures maximum playing time before natural light fades. “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,” a board source told The Indian Express.
Beyond the quirky schedule, there’s plenty riding on this Test series. India sit third in the World Test Championship (WTC) table, while South Africa are just behind them in fourth. With Australia already pulling ahead at the top, every point matters. The A teams of both India and South Africa are currently involved in two-match series of four-day Tests. The series has seen the return of Rishabh Pant after almost 100 days. Now,
