The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially unveiled the complete schedule for the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup. This highly anticipated 14-team tournament will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, running from October 2 to November 21, 2027.
Tournament Overview and Hosts
The 2027 World Cup will kick off with a three-team Super Series in Windhoek, Namibia. The grand finale is slated to take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 21.
India's Group A Fixtures
Team India, often referred to as the Men in Blue, has been placed in Group A. Their group stage opponents include defending champions Australia, arch-rivals Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and a Qualifier A team.
India's opening match will be a high-stakes encounter against Australia on October 7, 2027, in Cape Town. This fixture will serve as a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final, which Australia won.
Three days later, on October 10, India will face Pakistan in Johannesburg, a clash always anticipated by cricket fans worldwide. Subsequent matches for India in the group stage are:
- October 14: India vs Afghanistan in Tshwane
- October 17: India vs Qualifier A in Bloemfontein
- October 24: India vs Zimbabwe at the newly constructed Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium in Victoria Falls, marking the first World Cup fixture at this venue.
New Tournament Format
The 2027 World Cup introduces a revised format. After the initial three-team Super Series, the 12 participating teams will be divided into two groups of six. The top three teams from each group, along with the best fourth-placed team, will advance to a new 'Super 7' phase. Crucially, no points will be carried forward from the group stage into the Super 7.
The Super 7 stage is scheduled from October 25 to November 14, with each qualifying team playing six matches. India is pre-seeded as A1, and their potential Super 7 opponents could include Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, England, and Sri Lanka, pending their qualification.
The top four teams emerging from the Super 7 will then proceed to the semi-finals, set for November 17 and 18, leading up to the final in Johannesburg on November 21, 2027.