ICC World Cup 2027 Schedule: India vs Australia On October 7, Pakistan On October 10

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the schedule and initial groupings for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The tournament is scheduled to begin on October 7, 2027, with a blockbuster contest between India and Australia. The two sides were also the finalists at the 2023 ODI World Cup, where Australia defeated India to lift the trophy. The 2027 edition will bring the teams together at the start of the competition, setting up one of the most anticipated fixtures of the tournament. India have been placed in Group A along with arch-rivals Pakistan, defending champions Australia, Afghanistan, co-hosts Zimbabwe and one qualifier.

The 2027 World Cup will feature two groups in the opening phase, with six teams in each group. Group A includes India, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and a qualifier, while Group B consists of co-hosts South Africa, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and another qualifier. The composition means several established ODI teams will be involved in the opening phase, while the two remaining places will be decided through qualification. The group stage will provide teams with a series of matches to establish their position before the tournament moves into its next phase.

India's opening match against Australia on October 7 will immediately put the spotlight on the two-time and five-time ODI World Cup champions. Their meeting carries additional significance because Australia beat India in the 2023 final in Ahmedabad. India will then have Pakistan among their Group A opponents, ensuring another high-profile fixture during the league stage. Matches between India and Pakistan traditionally attract significant attention, and their inclusion in the same group adds another major contest to the tournament schedule. Afghanistan and Zimbabwe will also be part of India's group, along with the team that qualifies for the competition.

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The tournament will follow a format in which the seven best-performing teams from the two groups advance to the Super Seven stage. The next phase will determine the four teams that progress to the semi-finals. This structure means that teams will need to perform consistently during the opening stage and then maintain their position in the Super Seven phase to secure a place in the knockout rounds. The format also creates a pathway for teams that may not finish among the very top positions in their respective opening groups but perform strongly across the wider tournament field.

Group B will feature South Africa, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and a qualifier. South Africa will have the added responsibility of competing in a home World Cup, while Zimbabwe and Namibia will also be involved as co-hosts. The tournament will therefore provide the three host nations with an opportunity to play a significant number of matches in familiar conditions. For South Africa in particular, the competition will bring another opportunity to challenge for the ODI World Cup title on home soil. England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka will add further experience to Group B, while Bangladesh will also compete for a place in the Super Seven.

The 2027 edition will mark a major occasion for cricket in southern Africa, with South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia sharing hosting duties. The tournament will culminate in Johannesburg, where the final is scheduled to be played on November 21, 2027. The schedule places the opening match more than six weeks before the final, allowing the competition to progress through the group stage, Super Seven phase and semi-finals before the championship decider. With India beginning against Australia and facing Pakistan in the same group, the schedule has already established several marquee fixtures well before the tournament gets underway.

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