India-Sri Lanka ODI moved from Delhi to Visakhapatnam for December 13
The opening match of Sri Lanka’s India tour will be played at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium after Delhi’s cricket association requested a change of venue, citing reasons reported differently by the outlets.
The opening ODI of Sri Lanka’s tour of India has been moved from Delhi to the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, where it is scheduled for December 13, 2026. Reuters reported that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the change on November 5 after a request from the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA). The move shifts the fixture from Arun Jaitley Stadium and brings an international match back to Visakhapatnam, where the stadium last hosted one on December 6, 2025.
Why the Delhi venue changed
The reports give different accounts of the reasons for the DDCA’s request. Reuters reported that the BCCI said the association cited potential weather disruption and proposed renovation work at Arun Jaitley Stadium. The Hindu reported that the DDCA was understood to have raised concerns about Delhi’s air pollution. Reuters also relayed, citing Cricbuzz, that December air quality was a concern and officials wanted to avoid a repeat of conditions during the 2017 Test against Sri Lanka. Reuters said it had sought comment from the DDCA; its report carried no response.
The context is significant for Delhi’s international cricket calendar. The ODI would have been the capital’s first since the 2023 World Cup. Delhi has not hosted an international match in December since the 2017 Test, when Sri Lankan players wore masks because of severe air pollution, Reuters reported. Its account says cold, dense air can trap emissions from vehicles, construction and crop-waste burning, worsening pollution in the region around this time of year.
What is scheduled for the tour
Sri Lanka’s tour is scheduled to run from December 13 to 27, with three ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals. After the opening ODI in Visakhapatnam, the remaining ODIs are scheduled for Bengaluru and Ahmedabad; the T20Is are set for Rajkot, Cuttack and Pune, Reuters reported. The December 13 match is of particular interest to local fans because Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been featuring only in the ODI format, The Hindu reported.
Andhra Cricket Association secretary Sana Satish Babu told The Hindu that preparations had begun and the association would arrange facilities for players and spectators. He said Andhra Pradesh had not received a match so far in 2026 despite the association’s efforts, and thanked the BCCI for allotting the fixture. For Visakhapatnam, the scheduled game is the city’s next international match since India played South Africa there in an ODI last December, according to The Hindu.
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Sources and context
- Visakhapatnam to host India-Sri Lanka ODI on December 13The Hindu
- India-Sri Lanka ODI moved from Delhi to VisakhapatnamCNA, republishing Reuters reporting
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.