Australia will open its 2023 ODI World Cup campaign in a mouth-watering clash with hosts India.
The fixture for this year’s tournament, to take place between October 5 and November 19 on the subcontinent, was revealed on Tuesday.
It sees reigning champions England, rather than the host nation, opening the tournament against New Zealand at the massive Ahmedabad venue.
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The Aussies open against India in Chennai, where they’ve won five of six ODIs, including a 21-run victory last March.
All 10 teams will face each other in a round-robin format with the top four qualifying for the semi-finals.
Eight nations are known entrants – India as hosts plus Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa due to their performances in the 2020-23 World Cup Super League, won by New Zealand.
The final two entrants are yet to be determined with qualifying host Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Scotland best-placed, while former champions the West Indies are in dire straits, sitting 0-2 in the Super Six section following a super-over loss to the Netherlands.
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In other notable matches, India is scheduled to face Pakistan in Ahmedabad on October 15 – but the latter nation is set to be unhappy with the fixture being played at that venue.
Meanwhile the Aussies will finish their campaign against New Zealand, England, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
AUSTRALIA’S ODI WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE FIXTURE
v India, Sunday October 8, Chennai – from 7:30pm AEST
v South Africa, Friday October 13, Lucknow – from 7:30pm AEST
v Qualifier 2, Monday October 16, Lucknow – from 7:30pm AEST
v Pakistan, Friday October 20, Bengaluru – from 7:30pm AEST
v Qualifier 1, Wednesday October 25, Delhi – from 7:30pm AEST
v New Zealand, Saturday October 28, Dharamsala – from 4pm AEST
v England, Saturday November 4, Ahmedabad – from 7:30pm AEST
v Afghanistan, Tuesday November 7, Mumbai – from 7:30pm AEST
v Bangladesh, Sunday November 12, Pune – from 4pm AEST
Semi-Final 1: Wednesday November 15, Mumbai
Semi-Final 2: Thursday November 16, Kolkata
Final: Sunday November 19, Ahmedabad
