Virat Kohli's Home ODI Under Serious Threat, Likely To Be Shifted: Report

India are set to take on Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series starting on December 13. The opening match was originally scheduled to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, with fans of Virat Kohli eager to watch the local star in action. However, a recent report has dampened that excitement, claiming that the match is likely to be shifted to another venue as the Delhi stadium remains under renovation and may not be ready in time.

According to a report by The Hindu, work on converting the Arun Jaitley Stadium's outfield into a sand-based surface is currently underway and is expected to take another three to four months to be completed.

"It will take around four months for the work to be completed. Mullanpur, Lucknow and nearly 75% of the venues in the country have sand-based outfields. It makes a massive difference to the drainage system and will help get the ground ready after rain without much delay," a source said while speaking to The Hindu.

"When the work gets completed, there will be no need to cover the entire ground in case of rain. Puddles would not form on the outfield," the source added.

If the reported timeline holds true, the venue is unlikely to host any matches until IPL 2027. The last ODI played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium was during the 2023 ODI World Cup, when India faced Afghanistan.

The ongoing renovation has also forced the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) to shift Delhi's Ranji Trophy home matches to the Air Force Complex Ground in Palam.

Meanwhile, Team India recently clinched the five-match T20I series against New Zealand 3-2 under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer. After winning the first three matches in a row, India lost the final two games but still secured the series.

The five-match ODI series between India and New Zealand is scheduled to begin on Wednesday in Auckland. Following the ODI leg, the two teams will face each other in a two-match Test series starting on November 19.

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