Second Test between India and South Africa in Guwahati to witness tea before lunch

Published - 30 Oct 2025, 13:55 IST | Updated - 30 Oct 2025, 14:55 IST

During red-ball matches, the lunch break is generally taken at the end of the first session and the tea break at the end of the second session. However, this is set to be reversed during the second Test between India and South Africa, which is taking place at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati from November 22 onwards.

For the first time, the cricketers will have a tea break first, before lunch. This change is due to the early sunrise and sunset in the eastern part of the country.

The first session of the Test will be from 9 am to 11 am, followed by the Tea session from 11 am to 11:20 am. The second session will be played from 11:20 am to 1:20 pm. The lunch break will be from 1:20 pm to 2 pm, while the third session of the play will resume from 2 pm and go on to 4 pm.

“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 confirmed to The Indian Express.

Traditionally, the Test matches start at 9:30 am in India. A 40-minute lunch break (11:30 to 12:10 PM) followed by the resumption of the second session. Both teams are given a 20-minute tea break (2:10 PM to 2:30 PM) followed by a third session from 2:30 to 4:30 PM.

The match officials can add another half an hour to allow the team to finish 90 overs in a day. The game start time can vary country to country, like England starts Test matches at 11 am as they have long days in the summer season. However, most of the countries opt for the traditional lunch-tea breaks during the Test matches.

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Ahead of the second Test, India and South Africa will face each other in the series opener at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. This encounter gets underway on November 14. The Proteas will be playing two Tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is against the Men in Blue. Fans are waiting for this multi-format series with bated breath.