ECB has revised the schedule for the evening matches in the upcoming five-match T20I series against India in England to better align with the time difference and improve television viewership. The night games will now start at 5:30 PM BST (10:00 PM IST) instead of the earlier 6:30 PM BST (11:00 PM IST).
Out of the five matches, three are scheduled to be played under lights, while the other two will begin at 2:30 PM BST (7:00 PM IST). As per reports, the adjustment was made after discussions between the ECB and broadcasters, with a focus on maximizing audience reach in India, which is a key market for the series.
Traditionally, T20Is in England begin at 6:30 PM local time, but the change was approved considering the commercial importance and expected viewership from the India-England contest.
“Attention should be drawn to the fact that the ECB’s revenues are inherently cyclical, reflecting the scheduling of high-value broadcast series by opposition,” the report said.
The upcoming tour has generated strong excitement among fans in England, continuing the trend seen whenever India have toured in recent years. Tickets for the three-match ODI series were quickly sold out, driven largely by the huge popularity of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who now feature only in international cricket.
While the T20I series has also received a positive response, a limited number of tickets are still available. However, demand is expected to rise further following Shreyas Iyer’s recent appointment as captain, along with the maiden call-up of teenage talent Vaibhav Suryavanshi, which is likely to see remaining tickets sold out soon.
Team India’s tour of England will kick off on July 1
After their series against Afghanistan and Ireland, India will play five T20Is and three ODIs in England in July. The tour will start with the T20I series, with the opening match scheduled for July 1 at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street.
Team India have already announced their squad for the series, signaling the start of a new phase after Suryakumar Yadav was removed from both captaincy and the playing side. They last played against England during the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium, where India secured a narrow victory in a high-scoring encounter.
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