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England Avoid Australia and India in 2027 World Cup Draw
Confirmed
In Short: The 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup group-stage draw placed England in a group with South Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and a qualifier, avoiding defending champions Australia and world number one-ranked India.
The 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup group-stage draw has placed England in a group with South Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and a qualifier, avoiding defending champions Australia and world number one-ranked India.
India and Pakistan, who do not play each other outside tournaments, are placed in the same group alongside Australia, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and a qualifier.
England's campaign begins with matches against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Windhoek, Namibia, on October 8 and 13, respectively.
India's group also includes Pakistan, Afghanistan, Australia, Zimbabwe, and a qualifier, with their matches against Pakistan and Zimbabwe scheduled for October 10 and 24, respectively.
The tournament group stage will open with a repeat of the 2023 final when India and Australia face each other in Cape Town on October 7.
India, led by Rohit Sharma, will begin their campaign in the second round of the tournament, involving 12 teams across two groups.
India will need to finish in the top three of their group to proceed to the Super 7s stage before the semi-finals.
England have added former Ashes-winning star Kevin Pietersen to their white-ball coaching setup as the team begins preparations for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Pietersen will take up the position of specialist mentor, bringing his international experience and knowledge of limited-overs cricket into the England camp.
England's decision to add Pietersen to their coaching setup underscores their commitment to preparing for the World Cup, with the former batter expected to bring his extensive experience to the team.
The 2027 Cricket World Cup will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
India's ODI record has remained a mixed bag since their runners-up finish in the 2023 World Cup, losing to Australia and England away while suffering a series defeat to New Zealand at home in January 2026.
What this adds
England's campaign begins with matches against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Windhoek, Namibia, on October 8 and 13, respectively.
India's group also includes Pakistan, Afghanistan, Australia, Zimbabwe, and a qualifier, with their matches against Pakistan and Zimbabwe scheduled for October 10 and 24, respectively.
England's decision to add Pietersen to their coaching setup underscores their commitment to preparing for the World Cup, with the former batter expected to bring his extensive experience to the team.
Background
The 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup group-stage draw placed England in a group with South Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and a qualifier, avoiding defending champions Australia and world number one-ranked India.
Kohli’s decision to retire after the 2027 World Cup comes after a long and illustrious career, during which he has scored 14,941 runs in ODIs, second only to Sachin Tendulkar’s 18,426.
What's confirmed
- India and Pakistan are, once again, placed in the same group, alongside Australia, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and a qualifier.
- England, who won the trophy in 2019, are in the same group as co-hosts South Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and a qualifier.
- Political unrest in Zimbabwe under the regime of former president Robert Mugabe caused problems for England's men's team throughout the 2000s.
- After three matches to decide the final two qualifiers, the tournament group stage will open with a repeat of the 2023 final when India and Australia face each other in Cape Town on 7 October.
- 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, as the International Cricket Council (ICC) unveiled the schedule in Cape Town on Thursday, a year out from the quadrennial event.
- The 14th edition of the Cricket World Cup will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
- India will need to finish in the top three of their group to proceed to the Super 7s stage before the semi-finals.
- England have added former Ashes-winning star Kevin Pietersen to their white-ball coaching setup as the team begins preparations for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.
- His involvement will extend well beyond the immediate series, with Pietersen expected to work with the team during England’s winter assignments in Australia and South Africa.
- South Africa toppled Australia to go third in the latest ICC men’s ODI team rankings.
What's still developing
- Relations have improved in recent years, however, and BBC Sport reported in 2025 that the two cricket boards were discussing a potential England tour of the country in the next cycle of international cricket between 2027 and 2031.
- The visit to Zimbabwe is significant, with England having not played there since 2004.
- India currently stand atop of the men’s ODI team rankings and finished runners-up in the last World Cup held at home in 2023.
- Led by Rohit Sharma, the Men in Blue had a flawless run to the final before falling to Australia, who clinched their record-extending sixth World Cup title.
- India, however, claimed the Champions Trophy title last year in Dubai, beating New Zealand in the final.
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- Pietersen said he was eager to work with England's talented white-ball group and help the players reach their full potential.
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- England then return to Gqeberha on October 23 to conclude the group-stage campaign against New Zealand, the side they edged on boundary countback to win the 2019 final at Lord's and claim a maiden ODI World Cup title.
- Australia started well, with Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head scoring 84 apiece, but were eventually kept down to 333.
- Matthew Breetzke’s second ODI ton (112 off 106) propelled South Africa to a competitive 297-8, after which Keshav Maharaj’s 4-20 kept Australia down to 230 in the first ODI.
- However, rain played spoilsport when South Africa were 145-4, handing Australia a 45-run victory by the virtue of the DLS Method.