ICC announces 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup schedule; India to face Australia and Pakistan in group stage

The 14-team tournament will feature a new three-stage format, with 57 matches to be played across 12 venues in the three host countries. The tournament will begin with a three-team Super Series in Windhoek on October 2, 4 and 6. The winner will secure the final Group Stage place.

The remaining 12 teams will be divided into two groups of six. India have been placed in Group A alongside Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Qualifier A, while Group B comprises New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh and Qualifier B.

India will open their campaign against Australia in Cape Town on October 7, before taking on Pakistan in the much-anticipated clash in Johannesburg on October 10.

India's remaining Group Stage fixtures are against Afghanistan on October 14 in Tshwane, Qualifier A on October 17 in Bloemfontein and Zimbabwe on October 24 at Victoria Falls.

The top three teams from each group, along with the better-performing fourth-placed team, will advance to the Super 7 phase. The seven teams will play each other once, with the top four progressing to the semi-finals.

The first semi-final will be held in Cape Town on November 17, with the second scheduled in Tshwane on November 18.

The World Cup final will be played in Johannesburg on November 21, with November 22 kept as the reserve day.

The tournament marks the return of the Men's Cricket World Cup to Africa, with South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia hosting the event.