India to open ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 campaign in Africa, face Australia on Oct 7

India will begin their ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 campaign in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, with the tournament scheduled between 2 October and 21 November 2027. Their first group-stage match is slated against Australia on October 7.

The 2027 event will be the 14th edition of the tournament and will feature 14 teams, unlike the previous edition. After a 24-year gap the World Cup returns to the African region; Australia, captained by Pat Cummins, won the last edition in 2023 by beating India in the final and will defend the title.

The most recent ODI World Cup was hosted by India in 2023, where the hosts were considered the top favourites but lost the final to Australia and finished as runners-up. India are currently ranked at the top of the ODI rankings and will enter the 2027 tournament among the contenders.

India are scheduled to play five matches against the other five opponents in their group during the group stage. If they finish in the top three of their group they will progress to the Super 7 round, from which the top four teams will advance to the semifinals.

India will be seeking a third ODI World Cup title, having previously won in 1983 under Kapil Dev and in 2011 under MS Dhoni. Since losing the 2023 final, India have won the T20 World Cup 2024, the Champions Trophy 2025, and the T20 World Cup 2026, and they will look to add a fourth consecutive ICC title to that sequence.

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 is scheduled to begin on October 2, 2027, with the final set for November 21, 2027. India’s immediate confirmed fixture in the competition is their group-stage meeting with Australia on October 7.