Visakhapatnam to host India-Sri Lanka first ODI on December 13 after Delhi venue change

The first Muthoot FinCorp ODI between India and Sri Lanka, scheduled for December 13, 2026, has been shifted from Delhi to Visakhapatnam. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the venue change on Thursday.

In its official statement, the BCCI confirmed that Visakhapatnam will host the opening ODI of the series. The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) informed the board that it could not host the match due to ongoing renovation work and possible weather-related disruptions. A DDCA source also stated that the association was not in a position to organise the fixture under the current circumstances.

The BCCI also announced that Sri Lanka's tour of India will feature three ODIs and three T20Is. The ODI series will begin in Visakhapatnam on December 13, followed by the second match in Bengaluru on December 16 and the third in Ahmedabad on December 19.

Why the India-Sri Lanka first ODI moved from Delhi to Visakhapatnam

The first India-Sri Lanka ODI was moved from Delhi to Visakhapatnam following a request from the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA). According to the BCCI, the decision was taken due to possible weather disruptions and proposed renovation work at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Apart from the renovation work, concerns over Delhi's pollution levels in December are also understood to have played a role in the venue change. The DDCA reportedly wanted to avoid a repeat of the problems during India's Test against Sri Lanka in December 2017, when visiting players faced difficulties due to poor air quality.

However, the match will take place on its originally scheduled date, December 13, with only the venue being changed. The second ODI will be played in Bengaluru on December 16, the same day as the IPL auction, and no change has been announced to its schedule.