Visakhapatnam replaces New Delhi for first India-Sri Lanka ODI on Dec 13
Synopsis
New Delhi's air quality crisis and a stadium drainage overhaul have cost India's capital its place as host of the India–Sri Lanka ODI series opener. Visakhapatnam steps in at the ACA-VDCA Stadium on 13 December — a decision that echoes the 2017 Test when smog forced Sri Lankan players off the field retching, and raises fresh questions about Delhi's viability as a winter cricket venue.
Key Takeaways
Visakhapatnam will host the first India vs Sri Lanka men's ODI on 13 December at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium .
The venue change was requested by the DDCA due to renovation work at the Arun Jaitley Stadium and potential weather disruption.
Post-Diwali AQI levels above 350 in New Delhi in December were also cited as a health risk to players.
During the India–Sri Lanka Test in December 2017 in Delhi, Sri Lankan players were seen vomiting on the field due to poor air quality.
The remaining ODIs will be held in Bengaluru ( 16 Dec ) and Ahmedabad ( 19 Dec ); T20Is in Rajkot , Cuttack , and Pune from 22–27 December .
Visakhapatnam has replaced New Delhi as the venue for the first men's ODI between India and Sri Lanka, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Thursday, 5 November 2026. The series opener, originally slated for the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, will now be played at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on 13 December, with the date and start time remaining unchanged.
Why the Venue Was Changed
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said in an official statement that the shift was made following a request from the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), citing 'potential weather disruption and the proposed renovation work at the stadium.' The Arun Jaitley Stadium is currently undergoing a major overhaul of its drainage system, which involves converting the soil-based outfield into a sand-based one, relaying pitches, and recultivating the outfield grass.
The ongoing renovation work had already forced Delhi to shift its Ranji Trophy matches to the Air Force Ground in Palam, while hosting rights for the league stage of the Senior Women's T20 Trophy were handed over to Surat.
Air Pollution: A Persistent Concern
Beyond the construction work, post-Diwali air pollution in New Delhi was reportedly another significant factor, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) frequently crossing 350 in December — levels that pose serious health risks to players. This concern is not new: during the drawn India–Sri Lanka Test held in New Delhi in December 2017, play was repeatedly disrupted after several Sri Lankan players were seen vomiting on the field due to severe air quality conditions. That incident drew widespread criticism and raised enduring questions about Delhi's suitability as a winter cricket venue.
Full Schedule: ODIs and T20Is
The three-match ODI series will now unfold across Visakhapatnam (13 December), Bengaluru (16 December), and Ahmedabad (19 December), with all ODIs beginning at 2 pm IST. The subsequent three-match T20I series is scheduled in Rajkot (22 December), Cuttack (24 December), and Pune (27 December), with all T20Is starting at 7 pm IST.
What This Means for Visakhapatnam
The ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, a venue that regularly draws strong crowds for Indian home fixtures, now gets an elevated billing as the host of an international series opener. The city last hosted an India ODI in 2023, and the upgrade to series-opener status is a significant boost for cricket in Andhra Pradesh. Ticket and logistics arrangements are expected to be confirmed by the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) shortly.
With the full six-match bilateral series stretching from 13 December to 27 December, the revised itinerary keeps all original dates intact — only the first stop on the tour map has changed.
Point of View
On the surface, routine scheduling housekeeping — but it is really the latest admission that New Delhi's December air is incompatible with professional sport. The 2017 smog-match was a warning that went largely unheeded for years; it has taken a stadium renovation to finally force the BCCI's hand. If AQI-linked venue exclusions become normalised for Delhi winters, the city risks losing its status as a marquee cricket host for a significant chunk of the calendar — a reputational cost that the DDCA has yet to fully reckon with. The BCCI, to its credit, has acted early this time rather than scrambling mid-series.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the India vs Sri Lanka first ODI moved from New Delhi to Visakhapatnam?
The BCCI moved the match following a request from the DDCA, which cited ongoing renovation work at the Arun Jaitley Stadium — including a drainage system overhaul and outfield conversion — as well as the risk of post-Diwali air pollution in December, with Delhi's AQI frequently exceeding 350. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the change in an official statement on 5 November.
When and where is the first India–Sri Lanka ODI now scheduled?
The first ODI will be played on 13 December at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, with the start time remaining unchanged at 2 pm IST.
What is the full India–Sri Lanka 2026 series schedule?
The three ODIs are scheduled on 13 December (Visakhapatnam), 16 December (Bengaluru), and 19 December (Ahmedabad) at 2 pm IST. The three T20Is follow on 22 December (Rajkot), 24 December (Cuttack), and 27 December (Pune) at 7 pm IST.
Has Delhi air pollution affected cricket matches before?
Yes. During the India–Sri Lanka Test in New Delhi in December 2017, play was disrupted multiple times after several Sri Lankan players were seen vomiting on the field due to hazardous air quality. The incident drew international criticism and highlighted the health risks of hosting winter cricket in the capital.
What renovation work is happening at the Arun Jaitley Stadium?
The Arun Jaitley Stadium is undergoing a major drainage system overhaul, which includes converting the soil-based outfield into a sand-based one, relaying the pitches, and recultivating the outfield grass. The work has already forced Delhi's Ranji Trophy matches to the Air Force Ground in Palam.
