Kolkata, Delhi swap Tests as BCCI changes the venues for India's home season

The BCCI has introduced significant changes to the schedule for India's upcoming home season. The venues for the India vs South Africa and the India vs West Indies Tests have been swapped. Eden Gardens in Kolkata will now host one of the India vs South Africa Tests, which was originally scheduled to be held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Meanwhile, the second India vs West Indies Test match, originally planned in Kolkata, will move to Delhi. While the board has not presented any official reason behind the swap, it's likely to mitigate the issue that pollution creates in the national capital during the year-end phase.

India vs South Africa Test moved out of the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi

India is set to kick off the home leg of the new WTC Cycle in October against West Indies. The original schedule was announced back in April by the BCCI. At the time of the announcement, the board's decision to schedule a Test match in the national capital in November was heavily scrutinised. While air pollution is a year-long headache for India, especially in Delhi and the NCR, the issue elevates significantly towards the end of the year as the chilly season soars. Visibility takes a hit as a heavy smog cover engulfs Delhi, while breathing issues are observed.

With the conditions threatening the general public, scheduling a Test right in the middle of the season in Delhi looked like a lapse on the BCCI's part. Initially, the BCCI secretary downplayed the problem, stating that pollution in Delhi is not a round-the-year occurrence. However, over a month after the announcement of the original schedule, the board seems to have corrected the lapse. Reportedly, the officials took note of the pollution's pattern and arrived at the decision to swap the venues for the series.

The opening India vs South Africa Test, slated to kick off on Friday, November 15, has been shifted to the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, in the updated schedule. Meanwhile, the action has been preponed for Delhi to host. The Arun Jaitley Stadium will now stage the second India vs West Indies Test, set to start on Friday, October 10. Team India, meanwhile, is currently in England, gearing up to kick off the new WTC Cycle on June 20 under the new leadership of the young Shubman Gill.

Apart from the Test matches of the senior Indian men's team, the board has also made changes in the venues for the India vs Australia women's ODI series. The ongoing renovation work on the outfield and pitches at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai has prompted the relocation of the upcoming ODI series between India Women and Australia Women.

The first two matches of the three-game series will now be played at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh, with the final ODI shifting to Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium. Additionally, the India A vs South Africa A one-dayers, earlier set for Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, have been shifted to the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. The board has not shared a specific reason behind this change.

A look at the updated home schedule of Indian Men's Team

West Indies Tour of India

• 1st Test – Thu, 02-Oct-25 to Mon, 06-Oct-25 | 9:30 AM | Ahmedabad
• 2nd Test – Fri, 10-Oct-25 to Tue, 14-Oct-25 | 9:30 AM | Delhi

South Africa Tour of India

• 1st Test – Fri, 14-Nov-25 to Tue, 18-Nov-25 | 9:30 AM | Kolkata
• 2nd Test – Sat, 22-Nov-25 to Wed, 26-Nov-25 | 9:30 AM | Guwahati

• 1st ODI – Sun, 30-Nov-25 | 1:30 PM | Ranchi
• 2nd ODI – Wed, 03-Dec-25 | 1:30 PM | Raipur
• 3rd ODI – Sat, 06-Dec-25 | 1:30 PM | Vizag

• 1st T20I – Tue, 09-Dec-25 | 7:00 PM | Cuttack
• 2nd T20I – Thu, 11-Dec-25 | 7:00 PM | New Chandigarh
• 3rd T20I – Sun, 14-Dec-25 | 7:00 PM | Dharamsala
• 4th T20I – Wed, 17-Dec-25 | 7:00 PM | Lucknow
• 5th T20I – Fri, 19-Dec-25 | 7:00 PM | Ahmedabad