India schedules six South Africa ODIs as warm-up for 2027 Cricket World Cup: Report

The Indian cricket team are expected to receive proper game time in South African conditions ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. As part of their preparations, India will face South Africa in a bilateral one-day international series, which will serve as a pre-tournament warm-up for the Men in Blue.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday kicked off the one-year countdown for the ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe by officially announcing the tournament schedule.

Australia are defending champions of the global cricketing showpiece, having defeated India in the final back in 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

India to tour SA ahead of 2027 ODI World Cup

According to The Indian Express, India will tour South Africa ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup for a six-match one-day international series in key venues such as Centurion, Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Those venues will also feature ODI World Cup matches, which would provide the Indian team management with a good idea about the track’s behaviour.

Check out India’s schedule ahead of ODI CWC 2027

At the 2027 ODI World Cup, the Shubman Gill-led India will kick off its group-stage fixtures against defending champions Australia on October 7 in Cape Town. It will be a rematch of the 2023 ODI World Cup final, which the Men in Blue lost after maintaining an unbeaten streak through the group stage and semifinal.

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The Men in Blue will be desperate to make amends for that crushing defeat, which broke the hearts of millions of fans across the country.

Following the Australia clash, India will face arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday, October 10, at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.

The Men in Blue will then face Afghanistan on October 14, a qualifying side on October 17 and then lock horns against Zimbabwe on October 24, 2027.