India-Sri Lanka first ODI shifted from Delhi to Visakhapatnam

Sri Lanka are set to tour India in December 2026, playing three ODIs and three T20Is. The venue of the first ODI has been changed, which has slightly altered the series schedule.

The first ODI between India and Sri Lanka was earlier scheduled for the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. It will no longer be played there. This means Delhi fans will not get to see Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in action this time.

Under the new schedule, the ODI series will be played first, followed by the T20I series. The first ODI will be held in Visakhapatnam instead of Delhi, with the two teams meeting at the ACA-VDCA Stadium.

The reason for the change has also emerged. An official of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) said that, in view of rising pollution and renovation work at the ground, the association had asked the BCCI to move the match out of Delhi. The DDCA had sought a change of venue for the first ODI because of pollution concerns and the proposed renovation. The request has now been accepted.

The last ODI series between the two teams was played in August 2024. Sri Lanka won that three-match series 2-0. The first match of that series ended in a tie, while Sri Lanka won the next two.

The full schedule of the ODI series is as follows. The first ODI will be on December 13, 2026, at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam. The second ODI will be played on December 16, 2026, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The third ODI will be on December 19, 2026, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The T20I series will follow. The first T20I will be played on December 22, 2026, at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. The second T20I will be on December 24, 2026, at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. The third and final T20I will be played on December 27, 2026, at the MCA Stadium in Pune. Sri Lanka will play all these matches against India.