How India and Pakistan can clash 3 times at ODI World Cup 2027?

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved a new format for the 2027 ODI World Cup, bringing major changes to the tournament. The new structure includes a Super Series and Super Seven stage, which means teams that go deep into the competition will play more matches than before.

One of the biggest talking points is the possibility of India and Pakistan facing each other up to three times in a single ODI World Cup. If both teams qualify for the next stage and continue winning, they could meet in the league stage, again in the Super Series, and once more in the knockout stage.

The new format promises more matches, tougher competition and more high-profile contests. In this article, we explain the ICC's new ODI World Cup format, how it works, why teams will play more matches, and how India and Pakistan could clash three times in the 2027 tournament.

ICC approves new 2027 ODI World Cup format with 'Super Series' and 'Super Seven' stages

The ICC has introduced a new format for the 2027 ODI World Cup, keeping the tournament at 14 teams but adding two new stages – the Super Series and the Super Seven. The new structure is designed to increase the number of matches and make the race to the title more competitive.

The tournament will begin with all 14 teams taking part in the Super Series. The bottom three teams from this stage will play another Super Series round, with only one of them qualifying for the next stage. Meanwhile, the remaining 11 teams will directly join the second round, where 12 teams will be divided into two groups of six. The top three teams from each group will qualify for the Super Seven stage, while the next best team across both groups will also advance.

The Super Seven will feature seven teams in a single round-robin group, with every team playing against each other once. At the end of this stage, the top four teams will qualify for the semifinals. The first-placed team will face the fourth-ranked side, while the second and third-ranked teams will meet in the other semifinal. The winners of those matches will then compete in the final to decide the 2027 ODI World Cup champion.

How India's ODI World Cup 2027 campaign could stretch to 13 matches

The ICC's new format for the 2027 ODI World Cup means teams will have to play more matches to win the title. The tournament will still feature 14 teams, but it will now have three stages before the semi-finals and final. If India qualifies directly for the main competition, they are expected to skip the opening Super Series stage.

India would begin their campaign in Round 2, where 12 teams will be divided into two groups of six. Each team will play five group-stage matches. The top three teams from each group, along with the next best team across both groups, will qualify for the Super 7 stage.

The Super 7 will feature seven teams in a single round-robin league. Every team will play six matches, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals. The winners of the two semi-finals will then meet in the final to decide the world champion.

If India reaches the final, the Men in Blue could play a total of 13 matches—five in Round 2, six in the Super 7, one semi-final and the final. Under the previously proposed Super Six format, a finalist could play a maximum of 11 matches. The new structure could therefore give Indian fans two more Team India matches during a successful World Cup campaign.

How can India vs Pakistan happen three times at one World Cup?

The new ICC format makes it possible for India and Pakistan to meet up to three times in the 2027 ODI World Cup. The first match could take place in the Round 2 group stage if both teams are drawn in the same group. If they qualify for the Super 7, they will meet again because every team in that stage plays against the other six teams.

A third India-Pakistan match could happen in the semi-finals or the final, depending on how both teams perform in the Super 7 stage. The Super 7 standings will decide the knockout fixtures, with the top four teams advancing to the semi-finals. If India and Pakistan continue winning, another clash in the knockouts is possible.

India and Pakistan have met eight times in ODI World Cup history, with India winning every match. However, the two teams have never faced each other more than once in a single World Cup edition. If both teams progress through every stage in 2027, fans could witness three India-Pakistan matches in one tournament for the first time ever.