Visakhapatnam to host first India-Sri Lanka ODI

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that Visakhapatnam will replace New Delhi as the venue for the first men’s One Day International (ODI) between India and Sri Lanka, scheduled for December 13. The match will now take place at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium.

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia stated the change follows a request from the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) due to potential weather disruptions and planned renovations at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The renovation involves a major overhaul of the drainage system, converting the soil-based outfield to a sand-based one, and relaying the pitches.

Concerns regarding air pollution in New Delhi were also cited, as the Air Quality Index is expected to exceed 350 in December. Similar poor air quality previously caused health issues for players during a 2017 Test match in the capital. Following the opener, subsequent ODIs are scheduled for Bengaluru on December 16 and Ahmedabad on December 19, followed by T20Is in Rajkot, Cuttack, and Pune.