India will face defending champions Australia and arch-rivals Pakistan in their first two group-stage matches at the 2027 Cricket World Cup, according to the schedule announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
India will meet Australia in Cape Town on October 7, 2027, in a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final.
Three days later, India will face Pakistan at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. The highly anticipated match will take place on October 10.
The tournament will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The opening stage begins on October 2, while the final is scheduled for November 21 in Johannesburg.
India, Pakistan in Group A
India and Pakistan have been placed in Group A alongside Australia, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and one qualifier.
Group B includes New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh and another qualifier.
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India will then face Afghanistan on October 14. Their remaining group matches are against Qualifier A on October 17 and Zimbabwe on October 24.
Pakistan will open their campaign against Afghanistan on October 8 in Tshwane. They will then play Qualifier A on October 15, Zimbabwe on October 19 and Australia on October 22.
The India-Pakistan clash will be played at the Wanderers, one of the tournament’s major venues. The stadium will also host the World Cup final on November 21.
Kohli Confirms Final World Cup
India star batter Virat Kohli has confirmed that the 2027 tournament will be his final World Cup for India.
The 37-year-old said the intensity of a World Cup is unlike anything else in cricket.
He said maintaining that intensity across 10 matches in foreign conditions requires a major physical and mental commitment.
Kohli said he wants to give everything he has in his final World Cup campaign.
Australia Await India
Australia will enter the tournament as defending champions.
Their opening match against India will recreate the 2023 final. Australia defeated India in that final in Ahmedabad to claim the title.
Australian captain Pat Cummins said matches against India always attract enormous attention.
He also recalled the continuing interest in the 2023 final and said the upcoming contest would be highly anticipated.
New World Cup Format
The 14-team tournament will feature 57 matches across 12 venues in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The competition will begin with a three-team Super Series in Namibia. The three teams will play a round-robin series on October 2, 4 and 6.
The top team will secure the final Group Stage position.
The 12 Group Stage teams will then be divided into two groups of six. Each team will play five group matches.
The top three teams from each group will advance to the Super 7 phase. The better-performing fourth-placed team will also qualify.
The top four teams in the Super 7 standings will advance to the semi-finals.
The semi-finals will be played on November 17 and 18. The final will take place in Johannesburg on November 21.
India-Pakistan World Cup Rivalry
India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since Pakistan’s tour of India in 2012-13.
Their meetings have since largely been limited to ICC events because of political tensions between the two countries.
India have won all eight of their previous Cricket World Cup meetings with Pakistan. India have also won eight of their nine World Cup meetings in the T20 format.
The 2027 encounter in Johannesburg will add another chapter to the long-running rivalry.
