SportsPosted at: Oct 1 2026 10:11PM


India open 2027 World Cup against Australia as ICC unveils revamped 14-team format

Tridib Baparnash
New Delhi, Oct 1 (UNI) India will begin their 2027 ICC men’s ODI World Cup campaign against defending champions Australia in Cape Town on October 7, with the revamped 14-team tournament carrying added significance for Shubman Gill’s side and potentially marking the final global showpiece for veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
The marquee 50-over competition, returning to Africa after 24 years, will be staged across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from October 2 to November 21.
The tournament will feature a new three-stage format, with a Super Series, a 12-team Group Stage and a Super 7 phase before the semi-finals and final.
The Super Series, involving the three lowest-ranked teams from the World Cup Qualifier, will begin in Windhoek on October 2, with the winner earning the final Group Stage berth.
The remaining 12 teams will be split into two groups of six.
India have been placed in Group A alongside Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and a qualifier. Group B comprises South Africa, New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the second qualifier.
India's opening clash against Australia will be a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final, which the Rohit Sharma-led side lost in Ahmedabad.
They will then face Pakistan in Johannesburg on October 10, Afghanistan in Tshwane on October 14, the Group A qualifier in Bloemfontein on October 17 and Zimbabwe in the last group clash of the tournament at the new Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls on October 24.
South Africa will begin their campaign against New Zealand in Cape Town on October 9, while co-hosts Zimbabwe take on Afghanistan in Bulawayo on October 11.
The top three teams from each Group Stage pool will advance to the Super 7 phase, along with the better-performing fourth-placed side. The seven teams will start afresh, with no points carried over from the Group Stage, and each will play six matches between October 25 and November 14.
India, Australia, Pakistan, England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka have been pre-seeded into designated Super 7 positions to provide greater fixture certainty for fans and teams.
Should a non-seeded team qualify while a pre-seeded side misses out, it will assume that team's designated position.
The top four teams from the Super 7 phase will qualify for the semi-finals, with the table-topper facing the fourth-placed side and the second-placed team taking on third.
The first semi-final will be played in Cape Town on November 17 and the second in Tshwane on November 18, with both matches having reserve days.
The final is scheduled for November 21 in Johannesburg, with November 22 kept as the reserve day.
The tournament will be played across venues in all three host nations, with Windhoek staging the Super Series and Group Stage matches, while South Africa and Zimbabwe will host the bulk of the Group Stage and Super 7 fixtures.
The event will mark the first men's World Cup in Africa since South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya co-hosted the 2003 edition.
For India, the tournament comes four years after their defeat in the 2023 final and at a stage when Kohli and Rohit could be featuring in their last 50-over World Cup.
The team will also have to negotiate a significantly different tournament structure, with progression from the initial group phase followed by a fresh seven-team league before the knockout stage.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah said the schedule announcement was a significant milestone ahead of the tournament.
“The announcement of the schedule and opening of the ticket ballot are major milestones on the road to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, bringing fans one step closer to a spectacular celebration of cricket across the three nations,” Shah said.
“South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will provide an unforgettable stage for the world’s best teams, combining a deep passion for cricket, extraordinary destinations and a renowned warmth of welcome,” he added.
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