The 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup is already shaping up to be a blockbuster tournament, with India, Pakistan and defending champions Australia drawn together in Group A.
The tournament will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, with the main competition scheduled to begin on October 7, 2027.
India, Pakistan and Australia in Group A
Three of international cricket's biggest teams will headline Group A. India, Pakistan and Australia will be joined by Afghanistan, co-hosts Zimbabwe and Qualifier A.
2027 World Cup Groups
Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
India | New Zealand |
Australia | South Africa |
Pakistan | England |
Afghanistan | Sri Lanka |
Zimbabwe | Bangladesh |
Qualifier A | Qualifier B |
Australia will enter the tournament as defending champions after beating India in the 2023 World Cup final in Ahmedabad.
The presence of three heavyweight teams in the same group is expected to make Group A one of the most closely watched sections of the tournament.
India vs Australia to Open Group Campaign
India will begin their World Cup campaign against Australia on October 7, 2027, in Cape Town.
The fixture will renew memories of the 2023 World Cup final, when Australia defeated India to claim the trophy. This time, however, the two teams will meet at the very start of the tournament with both sides looking to establish early momentum.
India vs Pakistan on October 10
India's second match will be against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 10, 2027, at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
India-Pakistan encounters are among the most watched fixtures in international cricket, and their World Cup meeting is expected to attract huge global attention.
The short gap between India's opening two matches will also make the start of their campaign particularly demanding.
India's Group Stage Schedule
Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
October 7 | India vs Australia | Cape Town |
October 10 | India vs Pakistan | Johannesburg |
October 14 | India vs Afghanistan | Tshwane |
October 17 | India vs Qualifier A | Bloemfontein |
October 24 | Zimbabwe vs India | Victoria Falls |
India will then face Afghanistan and Qualifier A before completing their group-stage campaign against co-hosts Zimbabwe.
What Happens After the Group Stage?
The 2027 World Cup will introduce a new format after the initial group stage.
The top three teams from each group, along with the best-performing fourth-placed team across the two groups, will advance to the Super 7 stage.
The seven teams will then play six additional matches each, with their group-stage points not carried forward. The top four sides at the end of the Super 7 phase will qualify for the semi-finals.
The semi-finals are scheduled for November 17 and 18, while the World Cup final will take place at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on November 21, 2027.
A Blockbuster World Cup Ahead
With India, Pakistan and Australia placed in the same group, Group A has immediately emerged as one of the tournament's biggest attractions.
India face the defending champions in their opening match before taking on Pakistan just three days later. Those two fixtures could set the tone for India's entire World Cup campaign.
The tournament will begin with a three-team Super Series in Namibia on October 2, before the main group stage gets underway on October 7.
With several major cricketing nations involved and a new format adding another layer of competition, the 2027 World Cup promises plenty of high-profile clashes from the opening week.
