India to Play Australia in Opening Match of 2027 ODI World Cup

India will start their 2027 ODI World Cup campaign in South Africa against Australia on October 7 next year in a rematch of the 2023 final, following the release of the schedule by the International Cricket Council in Cape Town on Thursday.

Tournament Format And Group Matches

The 14th edition of the Cricket World Cup starts on October 2 and will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. India are in Group A alongside Pakistan, Afghanistan, Australia, Zimbabwe and a qualifier from the Super Series, and must finish in the top three of their group to reach the Super 7s stage. India play Pakistan on October 10 in Johannesburg, Afghanistan in Tshwane on October 14, a Super Series qualifier in Bloemfontein on October 17, and Zimbabwe in Victoria Falls on October 24.

Team Background And Captaincy

India stand top of the men's ODI rankings and were runners-up in the 2023 home World Cup under Rohit Sharma, before winning the Champions Trophy last year in Dubai against New Zealand. Shubman Gill took over the captaincy in mid-2025, and the team recently secured an unassailable 2-0 lead over the West Indies in a three-match series, driven by Gill's unbeaten 223 in a record 406-run chase in Guwahati.

Context

The Cricket World Cup is the premier quadrennial 50-over international tournament governed by the International Cricket Council, bringing together top-tier national teams from around the globe. The tournament format has been revised for this edition to include a Super Series and a Super 7 stage before the knockout matches.