Vizag to host India-Sri Lanka first ODI after Delhi venue change
The move follows a request from the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), which expressed its inability to host the game on the scheduled date
Visakhapatnam has been named the venue for the opening ODI between India and Sri Lanka, with the December 13, 2026 fixture officially moved out of New Delhi, as reported by Cricbuzz earlier this week.
The move follows a request from the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), which expressed its inability to host the game on the scheduled date. As Cricbuzz reported, the association cited concerns over the prevailing pollution levels in the capital, apart from the ongoing renovation work at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The second ODI, scheduled in Bengaluru on December 16 - the same day as the IPL auction, has not been rescheduled.
The DDCA approached the BCCI seeking a venue change, with concerns over Delhi's air quality during December understood to be a key factor behind the request. The association was keen to avoid a repeat of the problems encountered during India's Test against Sri Lanka in December 2017, when visiting players struggled with the pollution.
The first ODI will now be played in Visakhapatnam on December 13, while the second and third matches of the series are scheduled for Bengaluru (December 16) and Ahmedabad (December 19) respectively. The three T20Is that follow will be played in Rajkot, Cuttack and Pune.
