ICC chalks out plan, wants to honour Mahatma Gandhi as 2027 ODI World Cup set to start on Gandhi Jayanti: Report
ICC Targets Gandhi Jayanti for 2027 World Cup Kickoff
Bharatmorningnews.com – The International Cricket Council is finalizing arrangements for the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup, with organizers now focusing on selecting the perfect opening date. According to Cricbuzz, the tournament featuring fourteen nations aims to commence on October 2, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti celebrations. This date honors Mahatma Gandhi, a visionary leader celebrated worldwide for his commitment to peace and non-violent resistance.
The choice of opening day carries special significance given Gandhi’s deep historical connection to South Africa, where he resided for two decades and twenty-one years. This meaningful link explains why cricket administrators wish to recognize the Father of the Nation during the tournament’s inaugural match.
Revised Schedule and Duration
Earlier proposals suggested an October 8 start following warm-up fixtures scheduled between October 1 and 7. However, organizers have now adjusted their timeline, bringing the revised schedule closer to completion with the October 2 opening confirmed. The championship concludes on November 21, spanning approximately fifty days of competitive cricket across the host nations.
Tournament Venues Announced
The ICC recently revealed all twelve stadiums that will stage matches throughout the competition. Eight South African cities, three Zimbabwean locations, and Namibia’s capital city have been selected as host venues.
South African grounds include Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, Centurion in Tshwane, Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, Kingsmead Cricket Ground in Durban, St George’s Park in Gqeberha, Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, Boland Park in Paarl, and Buffalo Park in KuGompo City, previously called East London.
Zimbabwe contributes three facilities: Harare Sports Club, Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, and Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls. The twelfth and final venue is the Namibia Cricket Ground located in Windhoek.
New Format Under Consideration
Alongside venue selections, the ICC has modified the 50-over World Cup structure, drawing feedback from associate members like Scotland and the Netherlands. Under the updated system, the three lowest-ranked participants in the fourteen-team field must first navigate a mini-league known as the Super Series.
The Super Series victor advances to join eleven other teams, creating a twelve-team division split into two groups. After group-stage encounters, the competition progresses through a Super Seven phase, semi-finals, and ultimately the championship final.
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About the Author
Vishesh Roy is a cricket-focused sports journalist who launched his career at Asian News International. During his time there, he covered numerous prestigious events including the India Open, Legends Cricket League, the England-India Test series held in Ahmedabad in 2021, and the Narendra Modi Stadium inauguration ceremony.
His ANI tenure also featured extensive domestic cricket coverage, reporting on Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy matches nationwide. Beyond cricket, Roy has written about tennis, football, and WWE entertainment.
After more than three years at ANI, Vishesh transitioned to NDTV, where he developed expertise in digital-first journalism with emphasis on live blogs and real-time reporting. He joined Hindustan Times in October 2024, quickly building a reputation for exclusive interviews and source-driven stories.
Notably, Vishesh was the first to announce that the IPL 2025 auction would take place in Saudi Arabia. His early months at the publication included conversations with prominent cricketers such as Pat Cummins, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Rashid Latif.
He has also monitored the emergence of young talents like Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Priyansh Arya through discussions with their coaches. His on-field reporting background has enabled Hindustan Times Digital to publish exclusive updates on significant developments, including Virat Kohli’s comeback to the Ranji and Vijay Hazare Trophies, IPL scheduling decisions, and the T20 World Cup dispute involving Bangladesh and Pakistan.
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