BCCI explains why the second Test was shifted to Bengaluru

Even though there were earlier canards of a shuffle in India versus Sri Lanka schedule, BCCI has confirmed that it is happening. The entire schedule has been reversed as Sri Lanka will be travelling to India to play three T20Is and two Test matches. Initially, the tour was supposed to start with the Test match in Bengaluru.

The tour was shuffled to accommodate SLC’s request to allow a smoother bubble-to-bubble transfer of their T20I squad that will be arriving in India just four days ahead of the tournament on the back of their Australia series.

Explaining the change of venues, BCCI said that the final Test being in Bengaluru will allow Sri Lanka to board a direct flight to Colombo. The Test at Bengaluru is supposed to be India’s third day and night Test match at home with the other two coming against Bangladesh in 2019 and England in 2021.

As per the latest schedule, the tour will be starting with a T20I in Lucknow on February 24th while the remaining games of the series will be played at Dharamsala on February 26th and 27th respectively. This will be followed by the first Test in Mohali that should be the hundredth Test match for Virat Kohli. The second Test match will be a day/night encounter at the Chinnaswamy in Bengaluru.