November 21, 2025 : The upcoming India vs South Africa Test match in Guwahati is set to be played under highly unusual natural lighting conditions, with experts and match officials warning that the city may experience near-darkness as early as 4:30 PM. This rare situation, caused by the region’s geographical location and seasonal daylight patterns, is expected to significantly affect play during the five-day Test.
Guwahati, located in India’s far-eastern region, follows the same IST timezone as the rest of the country, despite sunrise and sunset occurring much earlier compared to northern and western India. During winter, the city witnesses its sunset before most major Indian metros, with daylight fading sharply by late afternoon. As a result, cricket matches played here often require floodlights much earlier than elsewhere.
Officials from the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) have already flagged visibility concerns and are coordinating with the BCCI to ensure that appropriate lighting arrangements are in place. Although Barsapara Stadium boasts world-class floodlights, the Test match format relies heavily on natural light, especially for long spells of red-ball cricket.
Match referees are expected to monitor visibility closely throughout each day’s play. Historically, several domestic matches in the Northeast have lost overs due to poor natural light, and the same possibility looms over this high-stakes Test. Early sunset could cause the final session of each day to be shortened, especially if weather conditions worsen or if cloud cover thickens—a common occurrence in the region.
The timing of this match is crucial, as both India and South Africa are looking to secure vital points in the World Test Championship standings. Any loss of overs due to poor light may impact strategic decisions, including batting order flexibility, bowling changes, and session-by-session planning.
Players, too, have reportedly expressed concerns, though they remain confident of adapting quickly. Fast bowlers may enjoy a temporary advantage during the twilight phase, where swing can become more pronounced due to moisture and decreasing light intensity. Conversely, batsmen may find shot selection and ball tracking more challenging during these periods of dimming visibility.
Local fans, however, seem undeterred and are eagerly waiting for the city to host a major international red-ball fixture. Barsapara Stadium has become one of India’s most exciting cricket venues in recent years, but this Test will be the biggest challenge yet for its infrastructure and planning.
Authorities have assured that the stadium’s state-of-the-art floodlights will be used aggressively to maintain playability. Yet, cricketing rules clearly state that artificial light cannot compensate for dangerously poor natural visibility conditions. Therefore, if umpires deem the light insufficient for safe play, they may call for early stumps.
With early sunset becoming a talking point across cricketing circles, experts suggest that India may revisit the long-standing debate on introducing a separate time zone for the Northeastern states. For now, however, Guwahati’s early twilight is expected to be a defining factor of this much-anticipated Test clash.
Summary
The India vs South Africa Test in Guwahati may face interruptions as the city experiences near-darkness by 4:30 PM during winter. Due to early sunset in the Northeast, visibility could drop sharply,