India vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI shifted from Delhi to Visakhapatnam

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially moved the opening One-Day International of the India vs Sri Lanka series from Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium to the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.⁠

The match remains scheduled for Sunday, December 13, 2026, with a 2:00 PM start. The change follows a formal request from the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), which cited the risk of weather disruption and proposed renovation work at the stadium.⁠

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the relocation in a media advisory issued on Thursday, November 5, 2026. The ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium (also known as Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium) will now host the series opener.

ALSO READ: IPL 2027: CSK trade Khaleel Ahmed, Nathan Ellis to SRH in exchange for Liam Livingstone, Jack Edwards

Reasons Behind The Move

The DDCA highlighted two main concerns: potential weather-related interruptions that could affect the completion of the match, and ongoing or planned renovation work (including outfield relaying) that made hosting an international fixture impractical on the scheduled date.⁠

Several reports also noted Delhi’s recurring air-quality issues in winter. The last time the capital hosted an international match in December was a 2017 Test against Sri Lanka, during which some Sri Lankan players fielded wearing masks because of pollution.⁠

Earlier in October 2026, media report about a possible shift to Ahmedabad had been firmly denied by the BCCI, which stated that the match was allotted to Delhi under its standard policy and that no change had been made at that time.

The eventual move to Visakhapatnam came after the DDCA’s specific request.

Updated Sri Lanka Tour of India Schedule

Match                Date                                    Time                      Venue

1st ODI         Sunday, 13 Dec 2026             2:00 PM      Visakhapatnam (ACA-VDCA)

2nd ODI       Wednesday, 16 Dec 2026      2:00 PM        Bengaluru

3rd ODI        Saturday, 19 Dec 2026          2:00 PM        Ahmedabad

1st T20I        Tuesday, 22 Dec 2026           7:00 PM        Rajkot
 
2nd T20I       Thursday, 24 Dec 2026         7:00 PM        Cuttack

3rd T20I        Sunday, 27 Dec 2026            7:00 PM        Pune

About ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium 

The ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, established in 2003, has a capacity of approximately 27,500. It has hosted multiple ODIs, T20Is, and Tests, and is known for its scenic setting amid the hills of the coastal city. Notable past matches include India’s high-scoring encounters and memorable individual performances.⁠

The venue change gives fans in Andhra Pradesh an international fixture while allowing the DDCA time to complete renovation work at Arun Jaitley Stadium without risking match disruption from weather or logistics.

This will be the first ODI of Sri Lanka’s white-ball tour of India, which consists of three ODIs and three T20Is. India are currently on tour in New Zealand, while Sri Lanka are preparing for a Test series in Pakistan.