How Many India vs Pakistan Matches Are Possible in the 2027 ODI and 2028 T20 World Cups?

Arch rivals India and Pakistan are often seen as a big rivalry and it is the most watched match of the tournament, even more so because the two teams have not played a bilateral series since 2012 owing to geopolitical tensions. Now with the newly revamped format for the 2027 ODI World Cup and 2028 T20 World Cup as announced by ICC on Wednesday, there is a chance that the highest revenue generating clash will be played multiple times in the upcoming tournaments.

2027 ODI World Cup India vs Pakistan Match Scenarios

As per the new guidelines, 12 teams from the participating 14 nations will progress to the Super Seven stage, followed by a new opening “Super Series” round featuring the teams ranked 12th, 13th and 14th which will determine one qualifier for the main competition. The top four teams from the Super Seven Stage will then qualify for the semi-finals.

If India and Pakistan are drawn in the same group in the opening round and if both India and Pakistan advance to the Super Seven stage. Since the Super Seven Stage then these two sides will definitely face off against each other at least twice in the 2027 edition.

Should the two teams make it to the semifinals, there will be 3 matches between India and Pakistan.

Scenario 1 - Three matches ( if both teams make it to semi-finals)

Scenario 2- Two matches ( if both teams make it to Super 7 stages)

Scenario 3 - One time (If either of the teams fail to qualify for Super 7)

2028 T20 World Cup India vs Pakistan Match Scenarios

The 2028 World Cup will feature 20 teams like the previous edition but the teams will be split in five groups of four this time around. The top two of each group will progress to the Super 10 round. Those ten teams will be split in two groups of five, with the winner of both groups directly progressing to the semifinals.

The second and third-placed teams from the two groups will compete in two Eliminator matches with the winners of those will join the group winners of the Super 10 round in the semifinals

Once again assuming India and Pakistan are in the same group there is a chance that both teams could once again meet multiple times. Since the Super 10 stage will follow the seeding format based on the ICC rankings of the teams at the time, India and Pakistan could potentially be part of the same group at the Super 10 stage.

If Pakistan and India do not top their respective groups, a match in one of the Eliminator would also be on the cards. Hence a meeting in the semifinal or final is also a possibility depending on how the other results in the tournament go. So there is a very good chance India could meet arch rivals multiple times in this tournament.