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Delhi fans looking forward to watching native son Virat Kohli stride out in national colors on his home turf will have to wait longer. According to a repot by the Hindu, the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi is on the verge of losing the hosting rights for the opening One Day International (ODI) between India and Sri Lanka, which is slated to be played on December 13.
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The potential relocation of the high-profile fixture deprives Delhi-based fans of an iconic homecoming of their icon Virat Kohli, which also highlights ongoing logistical, rotational, and operational considerations within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and state associations.
Virat Kohli's Delhi homecoming hampered by venue change
For Virat Kohli, playing at the Arun Jaitley Stadium (formerly Feroz Shah Kotla) carries immense emotional weight. It was on these grounds that a young Kohli developed his trade, rising through Delhi's competitive age-group ranks, playing domestic fixtures for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy, and eventually transforming into one of world cricket's premier batters.
In recognition of his legendary contributions to Indian cricket, the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) renamed one of the stadium's primary stands the Virat Kohli Pavilion in 2019. Whenever Kohli returns to play in Delhi, the venue takes on an electric atmosphere. With Kohli having retired from T20 Internationals following India's victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup, his appearances in international cricket are now concentrated primarily in the ODI and Test formats.
Consequently, an ODI in the capital presented a rare and coveted opportunity for local fans to witness the master chaser live in action. Reports indicating that the match will be relocated from Delhi have effectively put those homecoming celebrations on hold.
Why Delhi is set to lose ODI opener vs Sri Lanka?
The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) has undertaken a complete overhaul of the outfield at Arun Jaitley Stadium, aiming to transition the venue to a modern, sand-based drainage system. When the official home schedule was originally announced in March, New Delhi was slated to stage the opening fixture of the series. However, this extensive playing-surface renovation will keep the capital’s flagship arena out of commission for professional cricket until IPL 2027.
"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 told The Hindu.
The stadium’s most recent 50-over international fixture dates back to October 11, 2023, during the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, where India secured an emphatic eight-wicket victory against Afghanistan. Upgrading the ground requires a four-month construction timeline. Sand-based outfields, currently utilised in nearly three-quarters of premier Indian venues, including Mullanpur and Lucknow, dramatically enhance surface drainage, allowing play to resume quickly after heavy downpours with minimal downtime.
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Once the project is finished, stadium authorities will no longer need to cover the entire ground during rainy conditions, as the new infrastructure prevents waterlogging and puddle formation on the playing area. In the interim, the unavailability of Arun Jaitley Stadium has forced the Delhi state team to relocate its home Ranji Trophy fixtures to the Airforce Complex Ground in Palam. Following a second-round draw against Gujarat, Delhi will play their upcoming match against Services at the high-security facility located near the airport, with another fixture against Maharashtra scheduled for the second phase of the domestic tournament. Amid growing speculation regarding the venue change, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia stepped in to address rumors suggesting the opening match would be relocated to Ahmedabad. Saikia dismissed claims of a shift, reaffirming that the scheduled game remains assigned to Delhi under the board's standard venue allocation framework.
Virat Kohli arrives in New Zealand, gears up for ODI showdown
Meanwhile, Kohli has arrived in New Zealand, hitting the nets early to prepare for the upcoming three-match One Day International (ODI) series starting November 4. Following the conclusion of the T20I leg, Kohli’s early arrival highlights his focus on adapting to local conditions, including the extra seam and bounce characteristic of New Zealand pitches. Having retired from T20 Internationals, Kohli’s international calendar is centered primarily around ODIs and Tests. His early net sessions have focused on mastering late-line judgment and precise footwork against foreign fast bowling, ensuring he is fully tuned for the series opener.
Kohli's phenomenal record against New Zealand in ODIs
Virat Kohli has consistently dominated New Zealand in 50-over cricket. Across 36 ODI encounters against the Black Caps, Kohli has amassed 1,897 runs at an impressive average of 57.48 and an assertive strike rate of 96.63. His stellar record against New Zealand features 7 centuries and 10 half-centuries, highlighted by an unbeaten high score of 154*. Whether mastering run chases at home or handling seam-friendly conditions in New Zealand, Kohli’s consistency makes him one of India's most lethal weapons against the Kiwis.
Form Guide: Last 10 ODI outings
Virat Kohli’s statistical summary across his last 10 One Day International innings underscores a masterclass in modern white-ball consistency and relentless run-scoring. Amassing a colossal 617 runs from just 10 outings at a staggering batting average of 77.12, Kohli continues to prove why he remains the gold standard in the 50-over format.
What stands out most in this sequence is his remarkable ability to anchor innings and remain unbeaten when it matters most, evidenced by two crucial unbeaten knocks (65* against South Africa and 139* against the West Indies).
| Runs | Dismissal Status | vs Opponent | Venue | Date |
| 65 | Not Out | v South Africa | Visakhapatnam | 6 Dec 2025 |
| 93 | Out | v New Zealand | Vadodara | 11 Jan 2026 |
| 23 | Out | v New Zealand | Rajkot | 14 Jan 2026 |
| 124 | Out | v New Zealand | Indore | 18 Jan 2026 |
| 5 | Out | v England | Birmingham | 14 Jul 2026 |
| 65 | Out | v England | Cardiff | 16 Jul 2026 |
| 74 | Out | v England | Lord's | 19 Jul 2026 |
| 139 | Not Out | v West Indies | Thiruvananthapuram | 27 Sep 2026 |
| 29 | Out | v West Indies | Guwahati | 30 Sep 2026 |
| 0 | Out | v West Indies | New Chandigarh | 3 Oct 2026 |
Kohli’s strong average against New Zealand places him within touching distance of breaking further all-time scoring records in bilateral ODI series. In a transitioning white-ball setup, Kohli's presence at No. 3 provides vital stability alongside India's aggressive top-order batters. Early practice sessions in New Zealand will be crucial in neutralising the host nation's new-ball bowlers during the opening overs.
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