The second Test of the ongoing two-match series between India and South Africa is taking place at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. The first-ever Test match in Guwahati is special in so many ways.
It is the first time a Test match is taking place in the northeastern state of India, and also in the ongoing match Rishabh Pant is leading India for the first time in his Test career. Pant is the 38th Indian and 35th designated wicketkeeper-batter to captain in Tests.
But the most special reason for the ongoing Test is that for the first time in the history of Test cricket, a tea break will be taken before the lunch break. In Test cricket, after the first couple of hours of day’s play, teams return to the dugout for a lunch break, which usually lasts for 40 minutes, and then after playing for another two hours, players take a 20-minute tea break. But the tradition is going to change in the ongoing red-ball match in Guwahati, where, for the first time in the history of Test cricket, a tea break will be taken before the lunch break.
The tea break in the ongoing Guwahati Test, which kicked off at 9:00 AM IST, 30 minutes before the usual start time of Tests of India, will be from 11:00 AM to 11:20 AM IST, and the lunch break will be from 1:20 PM to 2:00 PM IST.
The reason for the change in breaks is because 11:00 AM IST is too early for lunch, and that’s why the 148-year-old tradition will be changed in Guwahati.
The reason for an early start of Test in Guwahati is because sunrise is two hours earlier in the northeastern states of India than in the western states, and since the sun rises early, so naturally the sun will also set earlier than in the western states of the country, which is why the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to start the Test 30 minutes before the usual start time of Tests in India.
Session timings for 2nd India-South Africa Test in Guwahati
| EVENT | TIMINGS |
| Toss | 8:30 AM IST |
| 1st Session | 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM |
| Tea break | 11:00 AM to 11:20 AM |
| 2nd Session | 11:20 AM to 01:20 PM |
| Lunch break | 01:20 PM to 02:00 PM |
| 3rd Session | 02:00 PM to 04:00 PM |
| Stumps | 04:00 PM |
Two changes for India, one for South Africa
Team India have made a couple of changes to their playing XI for the second Test. Gill is not available due to an injury, and Axar Patel has been dropped from the playing XI. They are replaced by Sai Sudharsan and Nitish Kumar Reddy. The Proteas have also made one change to their team. Spin-bowling all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy is playing in place of fast-bowling all-rounder Corbin Bosch.
