As the fixtures for the 2027 event in three southern African nations were unveiled on Thursday, Pat Cummins' side learned they'll take on the title favourites and world's current No.1 side on October 7 in a mouth-watering curtain-raiser in Cape Town.
Both teams will also feature in a potentially explosive group A with Pakistan, which also sets up a potentially tension-filled preliminary clash between the two great feuding Asian rivals, especially if India lose again to their 2023 Ahmedabad conquerors.
The India-Pakistan clash duel will take place at Johannesburg amid the famed 'Bullring' atmosphere of the Wanderers ground just three days after the Australia match, and that venue will also stage the final on November 21.
Also in Australia's group will be co-hosts Zimbabwe, who they've just beaten 3-0 in an ODI series at the same Harare venue, as well as Afghanistan, who've never beaten them in an ODI, and one of two qualifiers yet to be decided.
Their last group fixture will be against Pakistan at Paarl, where Australia will also play the yet-to-be-decided qualifiers.
The other group looks potentially even more challenging with co-hosts South Africa, desperately seeking their first men's World Cup, facing England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and another qualifier.
The best four sides will then go on to the semi-finals, which will both be hosted in South Africa at Cape Town and Tshwane.
In all, there will be 12 venues across three countries -- Windhoek in Namibia, Victoria Falls, Harare and Bulawayo in Zimbabwe, and Cape Town, Paarl, Johannesburg, Tshwane (Centurion), Bloemfontein, Durban, KuGompo City (East London) and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) in South Africa.
The Wanderers, with its bigger capacity of more than 30,000, was preferred over the more spectacular and picturesque Cape Town venue for the final, but also has happy memories for Australia as the setting for their 2003 World Cup final triumph when Ricky Ponting helped trounce India with his dazzling 140no.
But Newlands is thrilled to have snapped up the rematch of the 2023 final which Australia won by six wickets, thanks to Travis Head's ton and the bowling of their pace triumvirate, Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, all four of whom could well be playing again next year.
The two qualifiers will be confirmed after a 10-team tournament early next year. The winners will advance to the group stage, while the losing finalists and the two losing semi-finalists will play a 'Super Series' in Namibia, with the winners also advancing to the main event.
AUSTRALIA'S 2027 WORLD CUP SCHEDULE
Thursday 7 October: (Cape Town, South Africa) v India
Tuesday 12 October: (Paarl, South Africa) v Qualifier
Friday 15 October :(Harare, Zimbabwe) v Zimbabwe
Monday 18 October (KuGompo City, South Africa) v Afghanistan
Friday 22 October (Paarl, South Africa) v Pakistan
