BCCI Denies Delhi ODI Venue Shift Rumours
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has formally dismissed circulating media speculation that the opening One Day International between India and Sri Lanka, scheduled for December 13 in Delhi, will be relocated to Ahmedabad due to ongoing stadium renovations.
Across 171 ODI matches played between India and Sri Lanka, India has won 99 matches while Sri Lanka has won 59 fixtures, alongside two ties and 11 matches ending in no result.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia clarified on Monday that no such venue change has been authorized by the board. He emphasized that international bilateral fixtures continue to be allotted in strict accordance with the board's established scheduling policy.
Venue Allocation and Series Schedule
Speculation regarding a potential venue switch had intensified amid reports concerning ongoing construction work at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Observers questioned whether the facility would achieve full operational readiness in time to host the high-profile international fixture.
Addressing the claims, Saikia urged media organizations and fans to rely exclusively on official board communications for accurate scheduling updates. The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is already designated to host the third and final ODI of the series on December 19.
Full Tour Itinerary
Sri Lanka is scheduled to tour India for a comprehensive white-ball series running from December 13 to December 27, 2026. The itinerary comprises three ODIs followed by a three-match Twenty20 International series.
The opening ODI remains stationed at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on December 13, before the teams travel to Bengaluru for the second fixture on December 16 and conclude the 50-over leg in Ahmedabad on December 19.
The subsequent T20I leg will take place across venues in Rajkot, Cuttack, and Pune, with matches scheduled for December 22, December 24, and December 27 respectively. The BCCI maintains that all current fixture allocations stand firm as scheduled.
What goes into an ODI venue decision
A cricket board's denial of a relocation rumour is a useful official update, but it does not make weather, security and pitch-readiness questions disappear. A confirmed fixture requires coordination with broadcasters, state associations, ticketing providers, travel planners and local authorities. Supporters who have made bookings need to know which official channel carries venue changes and whether ticket refunds or transfers would apply if a decision were later reversed. An informal social-media claim should not be described as a board proposal unless there is a document or on-record source behind it. The distinction between the published schedule and a final match-day operational decision is important for fans travelling from outside the host city.