The tougher path runs through Group B, and it has little to do with individual star power. Every team there, from South Africa and New Zealand to England, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, rates at least 83 on the ICC ODI table, so there are no free points on offer. India’s side of the draw carries more glamour, with Australia and Pakistan alongside them, but it also contains Zimbabwe. Only one fourth-placed team survives into the Super 7, and that one detail tilts the whole argument further.
The Super 7 Wipes the Slate
The format rewards survival more than dominance. Each pool has six teams, and the top three from both advance, joined by the single best fourth-placed side across the two pools. That makes seven teams for the Super 7, a single league played between 25 October and 14 November. Group results are wiped, so a flawless first phase buys no head start.
The business end is compact. The top four of the Super 7 contest the semi-finals across 17 and 18 November, with the decider set for 21 November in Johannesburg. Because only one fourth-placed side among twelve gets through, the pool stage decides who gets in rather than who starts in front.
Cricket World Cup 2027 Group A, Group B
Ratings published on 4 October give Group B the edge on average, 97.2 against 94.0 for the five confirmed teams in Group A. Group A boasts the heavyweights: India sit on 115, Australia on 102 and Pakistan on 100. Zimbabwe, at 61, dragged that average down, while Bangladesh, at 83, is the weakest confirmed name on the other side.
Group A has the stronger summit, yet Group B has the better floor. Two qualifiers will only be confirmed in February and March 2027, so both averages will move.
Group | Team | ODI Ranking | 2023 World Cup Finish | 2023 Group Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
A | India | 1 (115) | Runners-up | 9-0 |
A | Australia | 4 (102) | Champions | 7-2 |
A | Pakistan | 5 (100) | Group stage | 4-5 |
A | Afghanistan | 8 (92) | Group stage | 4-5 |
A | Zimbabwe | 11 (61) | Did not qualify | None |
B | New Zealand | 2 (109) | Semi-finals | 5-4 |
B | South Africa | 3 (104) | Semi-finals | 7-2 |
B | England | 6 (95) | Group stage | 3-6 |
B | Sri Lanka | 7 (95) | Group stage | 2-7 |
B | Bangladesh | 9 (83) | Group stage | 2-7 |
India and Australia Carry One Half
India won all nine of their league games in 2023, then went down to Australia in the final, a side that had finished 7-2 across the league phase. Between them, the two finalists took 16 of the 18 matches they played before the knockouts. Pakistan and Afghanistan each ended on 4-5 and left the tournament early.
The fixtures are heavy. India face Australia in Cape Town on 7 October and Pakistan in Johannesburg three days later. Those three sides look set to fill the qualifying places, which leaves Afghanistan chasing the lone fourth-place slot while Zimbabwe look short of the standard.
Hosts, Rivals and Former Champions
South Africa hosted the event, held third place in the ratings and posted 7-2 in the 2023 league phase before Australia beat them in the semi-final. New Zealand, now second on 109, fell to India at the same stage.
England won the title in 2019 and Sri Lanka in 1996, and both sit on 95, three points clear of Afghanistan on 92. Neither lasted long in 2023, yet they are the sides most likely to scrap over the final places, and Bangladesh will fancy an upset or two.
Our Verdict Favours the Second Pool
Group B gets our vote. Every confirmed side in Group B sits at 83 or better on the table, so points will be shared out more evenly, and the team finishing fourth there is probably stronger than its Group A counterpart, which matters for the one extra place in the Super 7.
Anyone sizing up Cricket World Cup 2027 Group A and Group B should remember that this is a ratings-based view, and that ratings can move before the tournament. The two unknown qualifiers will decide how sharp this verdict turns out.
Which pool would you rather be drawn into, the star-heavy one or the deep one? Tell us in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which teams are in Group A and Group B at the 2027 World Cup?
Group A holds India, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and one qualifier. Group B has New Zealand, South Africa, England, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the other qualifier.
How does the Super 7 stage work at the 2027 World Cup?
Seven teams play each other once, and no group points carry over. The top four after those six matches play the semi-finals over 17 and 18 November.
When will India play Pakistan at the 2027 World Cup?
India play Pakistan in Johannesburg on 10 October. Both sit in Group A, where India also face Australia in Cape Town three days earlier, and the three heavyweights should fill the top places.
Where is the 2027 Cricket World Cup being played?
South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia host the tournament across 12 venues. The group phase opens on 7 October, and the final takes place on 21 November in Johannesburg.
How many teams reach the Super 7?
Seven teams reach the Super 7 stage. They are the leading three in either pool, along with the strongest fourth-placed side from the two, so finishing fourth keeps only one team alive.