Visakhapatnam to host India-Sri Lanka ODI on December 13

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final match between India and South Africa, in Barbados. File Photo | Photo Credit: File Photo Cricket lovers in Andhra Pradesh have a reason to cheer, with Visakhapatnam set to host an India-Sri Lanka One Day International (ODI) cricket match on December 13, bringing the much-awaited Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli combination back to the city.

The match, originally scheduled to be held in New Delhi, has been shifted to the Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA International Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam following a request from the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The DDCA is understood to have cited concerns over air pollution in the national capital as the reason for seeking a change of venue. The BCCI has reportedly accepted the request and allotted the match to Visakhapatnam, providing a major boost to cricket enthusiasts in the State. Confirming the development to The Hindu , Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) Secretary Sana Satish Babu thanked the BCCI for allotting the international fixture to Visakhapatnam.

He said Andhra Pradesh had a large and passionate cricket-following community and that the association had been making continuous efforts to secure international matches for the State. “Unfortunately, we could not get any matches so far in 2026. However, our efforts continued, and finally a match has been allotted to us,” he said.

Mr. Satish Babu added that the ACA had begun preparations for the fixture and would ensure all necessary arrangements and amenities were in place to make the international match a memorable experience for players and spectators. Visakhapatnam's cricket fans have been eagerly awaiting for another international fixture at the stadium.

The venue last hosted an international match on December 6, 2025, when India took on South Africa in an ODI. The December 13 fixture is particularly significant for fans as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, two of India's most celebrated cricketers, have been featuring only in the ODI format.

Published - November 05, 2026 11:33 pm IST