Aussies to face India in 2027 World Cup opener as full schedule drops
Defending champions Australia will kick off their 2027 Cricket World Cup campaign against India in Cape Town on October 7, following the full tournament draw release.
Defending champions Australia will begin their 2027 Cricket World Cup campaign with a blockbuster clash against India in Cape Town on October 7. The opening fixture serves as a direct rematch of the 2023 World Cup final, where Australia stunned India on home soil to claim their sixth title.
The tournament is scheduled to be hosted across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, beginning on October 2 before the final is played on November 21. Australia will be looking to go back-to-back for the first time since their run of three straight World Cup triumphs between 1999 and 2007.
Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli confirmed during a televised interview at the launch in Cape Town that the tournament would mark his final World Cup appearance. The 37-year-old emphasized the immense physical and mental toll required to sustain performance in foreign conditions.
“To maintain that intensity for 10 games takes a lot out of you in foreign conditions. It’s the last World Cup I am going to play for India and my motivation is to leave everything out there,” Kohli said.
Australian captain Pat Cummins acknowledged the massive anticipation surrounding the repeat of the 2023 showdown. “Anytime you play India, you feel there are a billion people watching. It’s going to be great. I still get called up all the time about that 2023 final and they’ll be up for revenge,” Cummins remarked.
Meanwhile, the tournament format features a preliminary round to eliminate two of the three lowest-ranked teams, followed by two round-robin groups of 12 sides. The top three from each group and the best fourth-placed team will advance to a Super Seven phase before the semi-finals and final.
Other key group stage matches include South Africa facing New Zealand in Cape Town on October 9, a day after England play their opening match against Bangladesh in Windhoek, Namibia. Zimbabwe, serving as co-hosts, will play all their group matches at home, concluding against India at Victoria Falls on October 24.