Visakhapatnam Takes Over as Venue for India vs Sri Lanka ODI: What You Need to Know!

Venue Change for India-Sri Lanka ODI

New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Thursday that the first One Day International (ODI) match between India and Sri Lanka, scheduled for December 13, will now take place in Visakhapatnam instead of New Delhi. The match will be hosted at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, with the timing remaining unchanged.

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia explained that the decision to change the venue was made following a request from the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA). This request was prompted by concerns over possible weather disruptions and ongoing renovation work at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Reports from September 25 indicated that the match might be relocated due to significant upgrades planned for the stadium's drainage system. These renovations include converting the soil-based outfield to a sand-based one, relaying the pitches, and recultivating the grass in the outfield.

Due to the ongoing renovations, Delhi had to move its Ranji Trophy matches to the Air Force Ground in Palam, and the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy league matches were shifted to Surat.

Additionally, the post-Diwali air pollution in New Delhi has raised concerns, particularly with the Air Quality Index (AQI) expected to exceed 350 in December, posing health risks for players.

During a Test match between India and Sri Lanka in December 2017, poor air quality led to several Sri Lankan players experiencing health issues on the field.

Following the ODI opener in Visakhapatnam, subsequent matches are set for Bengaluru on December 16 and Ahmedabad on December 19. The series will conclude with three T20 internationals in Rajkot on December 22, Cuttack on December 24, and Pune on December 27. All ODIs will commence at 2 PM, while the T20 matches are scheduled for 7 PM.