The 2027 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup could begin on October 2, 2027 (on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti), as the ICC reportedly considers the date as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
The proposed change carries special significance because Gandhi spent 21 years in South Africa, one of the three co-hosts of the tournament alongside Zimbabwe and Namibia. The ICC reportedly wants the opening date to reflect Gandhi’s message of peace and non-violence.
The tournament was earlier expected to begin around October 8, with warm-up matches in the first week. Under the reported plan, the World Cup could run until November 21, 2027, with 14 teams competing across 12 venues.
However, the October 2 start is still a reported proposal and has not been formally confirmed by the ICC.