Delhi’s Ranji Trophy home fixtures moved to Palam as Arun Jaitley set for drainage work

The Delhi & District Cricket Association informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India that the Arun Jaitley Stadium will not be able to stage Delhi’s home matches in the first phase of the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season; the Air Force Station Complex in Palam will host the fixtures against Gujarat (Oct. 18-21) and Services (Nov. 2-5).

The Arun Jaitley Stadium, which hosted three T20Is between India and Afghanistan last week, is set to undergo renovation to install a state-of-the-art drainage system. “The plan is to switch to a sand-based outfield. Our drainage system is lagging behind many grounds in the country. As and when the work begins, it will take four to five months,” said a DDCA official.

The Air Force Station Complex in Palam is the home base of Services.

The first-class Ranji schedule will pause in November for white-ball events and resume in January, and the Arun Jaitley Stadium is also slated to host an ODI between India and Sri Lanka on December 13.

Delhi have another home fixture against Maharashtra in the second phase, scheduled from February 1 to 4.

Delhi open their Ranji campaign against Bengal at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani from October 11 to 14.