ICC releases 2027 ODI World Cup schedule
The ICC announced the 2027 ODI World Cup schedule with India opening against Australia and facing Pakistan in the group stage.
The International Cricket Council unveiled the schedule for the 2027 ODI World Cup on October 1 in Cape Town. The 14-team tournament runs from October 2 to November 21 across 12 venues in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. India opens against Australia in Cape Town on October 7 and faces Pakistan in Johannesburg on October 10.
The format features a preliminary Super Series, followed by two groups of six and a Super 7 round-robin. Only the top four teams from the Super 7 advance to the semifinals. Direct entrants play 13 matches across six-and-a-half weeks, two more than finalists contested in 2023. No points carry forward from the group stage.
India's group-stage opponents include Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and one qualifier. The semifinals are scheduled for Cape Town and Centurion on November 17 and 18, with the final set for Johannesburg on November 21.
CricHubb Take
The schedule removes any buffer for early losses and forces every qualifying team to prove itself again in the Super 7. India cannot coast on group-stage dominance.