Devajit Saikia dismisses reports of India-Sri Lanka ODI venue change

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia has dismissed reports that the December 13 India-Sri Lanka ODI will move from Delhi to Ahmedabad. The clarification comes amid infrastructure work at Arun Jaitley Stadium, while Ahmedabad remains scheduled to host the third ODI

New Delhi: BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia on Monday denied reports claiming that the first ODI between India and Sri Lanka, originally scheduled to be held in the national capital on December 13, had been moved to Ahmedabad.

The clarification comes amid reports about the non-availability of the Arun Jaitley Stadium, where the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) is currently undertaking major infrastructure overhauls, including the installation of a modern drainage system and the relaying of pitches and the outfield.

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“Reports suggesting that the India–Sri Lanka ODI match scheduled in Delhi may be shifted to Ahmedabad are not accurate. There has been no such decision taken by the BCCI.

“We request media colleagues to kindly refer to official BCCI communications for any updates regarding the schedule. Further, it needs to be reiterated that bilateral matches are primarily allotted by following a standard policy,” Saikia said in a statement on Monday.

IANS had previously reported on September 25 that the major overhaul of the stadium’s drainage system had led to Delhi’s home games in Elite Group C of the Ranji Trophy 2026/27 being shifted to the Air Force Ground in Palam.

The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is already scheduled to host the third India–Sri Lanka ODI on December 19, while the second match is scheduled to take place at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on December 16.

The ODI series is important for India, the two-time champions, as they look to build and fine-tune their combinations for the 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup, which will be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

India batting stalwart and former captain Virat Kohli, who was part of the team that won the 2011 World Cup on home soil, had previously told broadcaster JioStar that the 2027 tournament would be his last appearance for India in a World Cup.