ODI World Cup 2027 Schedule Announcement Updates: IND to take on AUS in their opening game

India are set to open their 2027 ODI World Cup campaign in South Africa against Australia on October 7 next year, in a rematch of the 2023 final.

With an eye on keeping cricket pitches fresh for the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, pitch curators in the Rainbow Nation have come up with a unique Exchangeable Pitch System (EPS).

Of the eight South African venues scheduled to host World Cup matches, five are preparing to install the system, allowing ground staff to exchange pitches to prevent deterioration from excess usage. (Read more from Venkata Krishna B)

“We have a run machine at home, and we have a great captain who has won so many trophies in the IPL and for the country. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli need no introduction because I have played a lot of matches with them. This time, we are playing the World Cup in South Africa and Zimbabwe, and I think having both of them in the team gives us a 90 percent chance of winning the trophy," Raina said to Rediff.com.

“The intensity of ⁠a 50-over World Cup is greater than anything. Because now, it’s about 10 games at a Twenty20 level of intensity,” he said.

“But you are playing 2.5 T20 games in one day. And to maintain ⁠that intensity for 10 games in a big tournament and World Cup is a big deal. Also now, it’s in ⁠foreign conditions. It takes a lot out of ⁠you,” he added.

The ICC also approved significant changes to the Men’s T20 World Cup while retaining the tournament’s 20-team structure.

The opening stage will now consist of five groups of four teams instead of four groups of five, reducing the number of group-stage matches from 40 to 30. The top two teams from each group will advance to the newly created Super 10 stage.

Eight teams that will receive direct qualifications will be judged by their ODI rankings as on September 30, 2026. India currently top the leaderboard. However, the surprises are rooted lower in the table, where two-time champions West Indies will miss out on a direct berth, alongside Ireland. The two Full-Member sides will join eight other teams in the ODI World Cup qualifiers in early 2027, out of which four teams will proceed to the World Cup.

Women’s cricketers have been using balls meant for junior cricket, but henceforth differently measured balls will be used for that segment. “For women’s and junior cricket, manufacturers have often produced a single ball for both categories.

New limits have now been introduced, establishing three distinct size and weight specifications for men’s, women’s and junior cricket,” the ICC stated.

As per the new definition, the ball, when new, shall weigh not less than 5 ounces (142 grams), nor more than 5.25 ounces (149 grams), and shall measure not less than 8.46 inches (21.5 centimetres), nor more than 8.66 inches (22 centimetres) in circumference.

Under the new playing conditions, batters wasting time will receive a warning for the first and second instances; five runs will be awarded to the fielding side if the batter repeats the offence a third time.