- Devajit Saikia said reports of the match moving to Ahmedabad were inaccurate.
- Reports linked the possible shift to ongoing renovation work at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.
- The first ODI remains scheduled for December 13 in Delhi.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has denied reports claiming that the opening ODI of India's upcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka has been shifted from Delhi to Ahmedabad.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia clarified on Monday that the match, scheduled for December 13, will be played in Delhi as originally planned. He also reiterated that the board has not made any decision to change the venue.
“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 by the BCCI,” Saikia said.
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He further explained that the allocation of venues for bilateral international matches follows a standard policy.
“Further, it needs to be reiterated that bilateral matches are primarily allotted by following a standard policy,” he added.
India are currently playing against West Indies and have taken a 2-1 lead in the series. Their next assignment is against New Zealand. The Sri Lanka series will also be another strong test for the Indian side, with end-to-end action.
Why Were Reports Of A Venue Change Circulating?
Reports had suggested that the opening ODI could be moved to Ahmedabad because of ongoing construction work at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Ahmedabad is already scheduled to host the final ODI of the series on December 19. However, Saikia's statement has dismissed speculation about the opening match being shifted, with Delhi remaining the designated venue.
The BCCI has not announced any change to the original schedule.
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India To Play Three ODIs And Three T20Is Against Sri Lanka
The upcoming Sri Lanka tour will feature a three-match ODI series followed by three T20 Internationals.
With the opening ODI scheduled for December 13 and the series finale set for December 19, the two teams will compete across multiple venues during the limited-overs leg of the tour.
For now, the BCCI's clarification puts an end to reports of a possible venue change, with the opening ODI against Sri Lanka still allotted to Delhi. Fans will be eager to see to their favourite team once again in Delhi after the Afghanistan series.
