India’s opening ODI against Sri Lanka, scheduled for December 13 at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, is shifted to Visakhapatnam. The change moves the first match of the three-ODI series away from New Delhi to the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, following a request from the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA).
Across outlets, the stated reason for the relocation is potential disruption from weather and planned renovation work at the Delhi venue. ESPN Cricinfo and NDTV both describe the decision in terms of avoiding weather-related problems and accounting for stadium renovation plans, while Free Press Journal adds that winter air pollution in Delhi is also a factor.
Free Press Journal also lays out the broader series schedule, listing the second ODI in Bengaluru on December 16 and the third in Ahmedabad on December 19, followed by three T20Is in Rajkot, Cuttack and Pune. NDTV focuses on the venue change and its rationale, while ESPN Cricinfo emphasizes the administrative request and the practical factors behind it.
