The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday (February 15) announced a change in schedule for the upcoming Sri Lanka Tour of India.
Sri Lanka will first play the T20I series comprising three matches followed by a two-match Test series, which will be a part of the ICC World Test Championship, 2021-23. Lucknow's Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium will host the first T20I on February 24 while the remaining 2 T20Is will be played in Dharmsala on February 26 and 27.
The first Test will now be held in Mohali from March 4 to March 8 while the second Test will be played from March 12 to 16 in Bengaluru.
"The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today announced a change in schedule for the upcoming Paytm Sri Lanka Tour of India. Sri Lanka will first play the T20I series comprising three matches followed by a two-match Test series, which will be a part of the ICC World Test Championship, 2021-23. Lucknow will now host the first T20I while the next two will be played in Dharamsala," a statement released by the BCCI said.
"The first Test will now be held in Mohali from March 4th to 8th and the second Test will be played from March 12th to 16th in Bengaluru," the statement further added.
Initially, Sri Lanka were set to begin their tour of India with the 2-Test series in Mohali on February 25 and then travel to Mohali for the 2nd Test from March 5. However, with Sri Lanka playing T20Is in Australia, the visitors will be able to do a bubble-to-bubble transfer of their T20i team members. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had reportedly requested the BCCI to change the schedule and precede the Tests with T20Is.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli is expected to feature in his 100th Test in Mohali. The former captain was set to complete the landmark during India's tour of South Africa in January but he missed a Test in the 3-match series due to a back injury.
This will be the first India vs Sri Lanka limited-overs series since July of 2021. India had toured Sri Lanka last year to play three T20Is and T20Is. In Rahul Dravid's first assignment as India's head coach, Team India wrapped up the ODI series 2-1, while the home team sealed the T20Is against a Covid-hit depleted India.
The revised schedule:
1st T20I: 24th February, Lucknow
2nd T20I: 26th February, Dharamsala
3rd T20I: 27th February, Dharamsala
1st Test: March 4-8, Mohali
2nd Test (D/N): March 12-16, Bengaluru
