The India vs Sri Lanka ODI slated for December 13 is moving out of Delhi as the Arun Jaitley Stadium prepares for a major drainage overhaul.
The India vs Sri Lanka ODI scheduled for December 13 is being moved out of Delhi, with sports infrastructure work at the Arun Jaitley Stadium forcing the change. The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) is preparing a major overhaul of the venue's drainage system, which will require extended downtime. The match was to open the ODI leg of Sri Lanka's tour, which also includes games in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad and three T20Is in Rajkot, Cuttack and Pune.
The renovation first surfaced publicly on September 25, when IANS reported that a proposal to improve the stadium's drainage had been sent out and was awaiting final approval. A source said a confirmation was likely by the first week of October.
The same report noted that the outfield work was initially understood to take about four months, and that winter conditions slow grass growth because the turf needs proper sunshine. That timeline cast doubt over the December 13 fixture, and the BCCI has now acted on it.
The stadium had just hosted three T20Is between India and Afghanistan earlier in September, so the work follows closely on a busy stretch of international cricket. The overhaul is also expected to affect the domestic calendar, with Delhi's early Ranji Trophy home games possibly moving to the Air Force Ground in Palam. The BCCI originally announced the Delhi ODI in March, when it released its 2026-27 home schedule.
No replacement venue for the Delhi ODI had been announced in the reporting available at the time of writing. The BCCI is expected to name an alternative host closer to the series, and the decision will likely depend on how quickly a suitable ground can be prepared.
Delhi was already a somewhat contentious pick for a December fixture, given the city's winter air pollution. The 2017 India-Sri Lanka Test in Delhi was marred by players struggling with breathing difficultie and nausea.
The drainage upgrade is aimed at improving playing conditions at the venue in the long run, but for now it leaves the Sri Lanka series opener without a confirmed home just weeks after fixtures were locked in.
Sport is no longer just a game. It's a $600 billion global industry driven by stadiums that redefine skylines, technologies that push human limits, and policies that determine who gets to play.
Sportscape Magazine exists at that intersection — decoding the forces, the figures, and the future shaping sport in India and beyond.
“We don't just cover sport. We cover what sport is becoming.”
Join 12,000+ readers. Get the week's most important sports industry stories — free, every Friday.
Loading comments…