BCCI announces major venue change for India-Sri Lanka series; 1st ODI moved from New Delhi

The opening ODI of India's upcoming home series against Sri Lanka has been shifted from Delhi to Visakhapatnam, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirming the venue change on Thursday. The December 13 fixture, originally scheduled to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, will now take place at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.Why has India vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI been shifted?The DDCA had approached the BCCI seeking a change in venue, citing its inability to host the international fixture amid renovation work and unfavourable weather conditions expected in Delhi during December.The association was concerned that the ongoing work at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, coupled with the possibility of weather-related disruptions, could affect the smooth organisation of the match. The BCCI subsequently approved the request and confirmed Visakhapatnam as the new venue for the series opener.India vs Sri Lanka: Revised ODI and T20I scheduleSri Lanka are scheduled to play three ODIs and three T20Is during their tour of India in December 2026. While the opening ODI has been moved to Visakhapatnam, the remaining five fixtures will continue at their previously allotted venues.The three-match ODI series will begin on December 13, followed by the T20I leg, which gets underway on December 22.MatchDateTime (IST)Venue1st ODIDecember 132:00 PMVisakhapatnam2nd ODIDecember 162:00 PMBengaluru3rd ODIDecember 192:00 PMAhmedabad1st T20IDecember 227:00 PMRajkot2nd T20IDecember 247:00 PMCuttack3rd T20IDecember 277:00 PMPuneGet the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.