The Indian cricket team will soon leave for its tour of Ireland and England, where it is scheduled to play a T20 series followed by an ODI series. While the T20 squad has already been announced, a major change has emerged ahead of the much-anticipated series against England.

Just weeks before the opening match, the England Cricket Board (ECB) has decided to revise the timings of three matches in the five-match T20 series. The day-night encounters, which were originally scheduled to begin at 11 PM IST, will now start at 10 PM IST.

According to reports, the decision was taken after discussions between the ECB and the official broadcaster. The primary objective is to maximize television and digital viewership, especially in India, which remains the biggest cricket market in the world.

Matches involving Team India consistently attract massive audiences across stadiums, television screens, and OTT platforms. Broadcasters believe that an earlier start time will allow more Indian fans to watch the games comfortably, leading to higher viewership numbers and increased advertising revenue.

The move is expected to benefit not only the broadcaster but also the ECB financially. Tours featuring India are among the most profitable events for any cricket board, and England has witnessed this firsthand. Last year's Test series generated significant revenue, and officials expect the upcoming white-ball series to deliver strong returns as well.

India's tour will begin on July 1 with two T20 matches in Ireland before the team heads to England. The five-match T20 series will be played under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer. Following the T20 leg, India and England will face off in a three-match ODI series, for which the Indian squad is yet to be announced.