In a rare and intriguing move, the upcoming India vs South Africa Test match at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati (November 22–26) will feature a unique schedule — the Tea break will come before Lunch. Traditionally, Test cricket follows a fixed rhythm: a 40-minute Lunch break after the first session, followed by a 20-minute Tea break later in the day. However, this Guwahati Test will reverse that long-standing order for the first time in Indian cricket history.

Typically, a Test match in India begins at 9:30 am, with the first session running till 11:30 am, followed by Lunch (11:30–12:10 pm), then the second session till Tea (2:10–2:30 pm), and the final session extending up to 4:30 or 5:00 pm. But this time, the play will begin 30 minutes earlier at 9:00 am, with Stumps scheduled for 4:00 pm due to early sunset in the Northeast.

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According to The Indian Express, the first session will last till 11:00 am, followed by a 20-minute Tea break till 11:20 am. The second session will continue from 11:20 am to 1:20 pm, after which players will have a Lunch break till 2:00 pm, and then play will resume until 4:00 pm.

🚨 NEW TIMING FOR GUWAHATI TEST BETWEEN INDIA vs SOUTH AFRICA 🚨 [Devendra Pandey from Express Sports]

1st Session – 9 am to 11 am
2nd Session – 11.20 am to 1.20 pm
3rd session – 2 pm to 4 pm

Tea break followed by Lunch session due to early sunrise & sunset in eastern part. pic.twitter.com/1P1HmMafo5

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 30, 2025

The change, a joint decision between the BCCI and Cricket South Africa (CSA), comes as a response to the early sunrise and sunset in Assam. In eastern India, daylight fades much sooner, often before 5 pm, making it difficult to complete full sessions. A senior BCCI official told the newspaper, “The early Tea break is to ensure we maximise daylight and avoid interruptions due to bad light.”

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While this adjustment aims to preserve playing time, some cricket enthusiasts question its necessity. Since the total break duration remains the same, switching the order might not make a significant difference — yet it stands as a fascinating experiment in Test match scheduling.