The ODI World Cup 2027 will be the next major cricket event after the T20 World Cup 2026 celebrations end. The Indian team has begun its preparations for the tournament which will take place more than a year from now. Gautam Gambhir India head coach explained the team's strategy for the upcoming 50-over World Cup. According to AajTak, Gambhir stated that the team needs more time to finalize their squad for the upcoming match. The team management will evaluate player performance and circumstances before making player selections according to him. South Africa conditions will be important The ODI World Cup 2027 will take place in South Africa along with Zimbabwe and Namibia as co-hosts. The tournament expected to take place in October to November 2027. Gambhir explained that South Africa presents distinctly different playing conditions when compared to the subcontinent. The pitches there usually help fast bowlers and can trouble batters more compared to Indian conditions. The team management needs to select players who possess the ability to succeed in different playing conditions. Gambhir says many combinations may be tested India does not have many ODI matches scheduled before the tournament. The team will play around 24 ODIs between 2025 and the end of 2026 according to the schedule. Gambhir explained that the team will test various player combinations in the upcoming matches to determine their final squad selection. Gambhir said: “There will be plenty of time; the upcoming couple of months will be the IPL 2027. By the end of the Indian Premier League 2027, hope to create a blueprint for the upcoming showdown. The ODI World Cup will be in South Africa, which can be very difficult.” Gambhir added: “We have to see which players are capable of playing well under those conditions. We may have to try a lot of combinations as well. The final decision regarding the team for the event will come through a discussion between the selectors and the coaches.” Also Read | Former England Captain Backs India to Hold All ICC White-Ball Trophies After T20 World Cup 2026 Win IPL 2027 will also play a role Gambhir mentioned that the Indian Premier League in 2027 might influence the team's future plans. The team management plans to observe player performance during the tournament before they create their World Cup strategy. India will get a two-month international match break during the IPL season. India’s ODI schedule before World Cup 2027 India will compete in multiple ODI series against various teams before the 2027 World Cup. Most of these matches will be played in India except for the series against England, Australia and New Zealand. The matches will provide the team management sufficient duration to evaluate players while they prepare for the major upcoming event. Team ODI's Schedule Till World Cup 2027 Time Opponent Venue Number of ODIs Oct-Nov 2025 Australia Away 3 Nov-Dec 2025 South Africa Home 3 January 2026 New Zealand Home 3 June 2026 Afghanistan Home 3 July 2026 England Away 3 Sep-Oct 2026 West Indies Home 3 Oct-Nov 2026 New Zealand Away 3 December 2026 Sri Lanka Home 3 With the tournament still some time away, India will focus on building the right combination and preparing players for the challenging conditions in South Africa.