2027 Cricket World Cup Start Date Likely Moved to October 2
The ICC is reportedly advancing the opening match by two days, with the final still set for November 21 in Johannesburg.
The International Cricket Council is believed to be revising the schedule for the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. According to recent reports, the tournament's opening game is now expected to take place on October 2 instead of the previously planned October 4. The final remains fixed for November 21 at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
The proposed date change is seen as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, whose birth anniversary falls on October 2 and who played a pivotal role in India's independence movement. While the ICC has not made an official announcement, sources suggest the early start is intended to honor his legacy. Earlier speculation had pointed to an October 8 beginning after warm-up matches, but that idea appears to have been set aside.
If confirmed, the shift will give teams an extra two days of competition before the knockout stage, though the overall structure of the event is expected to remain largely unchanged. Cricket fans will be eager to see how the revised calendar affects team preparations and match fixtures across the three host nations.