New Delhi: Severe air pollution in the national capital has once again impacted the Indian cricket calendar. According to media reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been compelled to relocate the entire knockout stage of its annual men's Under-23 one-day tournament from Delhi to Mumbai, citing hazardous air quality levels.

The move comes shortly after the Supreme Court of India urged against holding outdoor sports in the Delhi-NCR region due to the poor Air Quality Index (AQI). The matches, originally scheduled for Delhi, will now be hosted by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), running from November 25 to December 1.

The decision to move the matches prioritises the health and safety of players, officials, and spectators.

A report in the Indian Express confirmed the decision, with officials stating that cricket simply "can't be played in those conditions." Forecasts from the Ministry of Earth Sciences' Air Quality Early Warning System indicate that Delhi's air quality is expected to oscillate between 'very poor' to 'severe' categories over the next six days.

Has air pollution affected cricket in Delhi before?

Yes, this is not an isolated incident. The BCCI has had to alter its schedule multiple times due to air quality concerns in the capital this year and previously:

Test Match Relocation (2025): The first Test against South Africa, initially slated for November 14 in Delhi, was moved to Kolkata. In exchange, the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi was allotted the second Test against the West Indies on October 10, when air quality was better.

The 2017 Sri Lanka match: During a Test match against India in December 2017, the pollution levels were so high that Sri Lankan players were seen wearing masks on the field, with some even experiencing respiratory problems. The AQI went up to 390 on Day 3 of that game.