ODI World Cup 2027: India open vs Australia on October 7, face Pakistan on October 10

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday, October 1, announced the schedule for the 2027 Men's Cricket World Cup, with India set to begin their campaign against defending champions Australia in Cape Town on October 7 before taking on arch-rivals Pakistan in Johannesburg on October 10.

The 14-team tournament will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia and will begin on October 2 with the Super Series in Windhoek. The three-team competition will determine the final team to enter the Group Stage.

South Africa and Zimbabwe have qualified directly as co-hosts, while eight other teams secured their places through the ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings as of the September 30, 2026 cut-off. The remaining four spots will be decided through the Cricket World Cup Qualifier.

The top-placed team in the Qualifier will progress directly to the Group Stage, while the other three teams will compete in the Super Series. The three Super Series matches



will be played on October 2, 4 and 6, with each team facing the others once. The team finishing top will claim the final Group Stage spot.

The 12 teams in the Group Stage will be divided into two groups of six. Group A comprises India, Australia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and one qualifying team, while Group B features South Africa, England, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the second qualifying team.

Australia and India, the finalists from the 2023 World Cup, will meet in Cape Town on October 7 in the opening Group Stage match. England and Bangladesh will face off in Windhoek on October 8, while co-hosts South Africa will begin their campaign against New Zealand in Cape Town on October 10.

Zimbabwe will face Afghanistan in Bulawayo on October 11 and will also play their final Group Stage match against India at the new venue in Victoria Falls.

India and Pakistan will renew their rivalry in Johannesburg on October 10.