The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is in discussions with Cricket South Africa (CSA) over a possible six-match ODI series in South Africa ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.

According to a report in The Indian Express, the Indian team management has asked the BCCI to arrange the series as part of its preparations for the World Cup. With the tournament set to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, playing a series in South African conditions could give India valuable experience before the big event.

The timing should not be a major issue either. India’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) after the 2027 Indian Premier League (IPL) is yet to be finalised, leaving the BCCI with some room to work out the proposed series with CSA.

ALSO READ: India To Host Inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027; Check Dates, Teams And Venues

India last played an ODI series in South Africa in December 2023.

How many ODIs will India play before the 2027 World Cup?

India’s preparations for the 2027 World Cup are set to begin later this month with a three-match ODI series against the West Indies. However, some of the regular ODI players are expected to miss that series as they will be involved in the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.

India will then travel to New Zealand for an all-format tour, which includes five ODIs. The team will return home for a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in December.

India are also scheduled to play three ODIs against Zimbabwe in January 2027.

The ODI schedule will then take a back seat as India are expected to focus on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on home soil. After the IPL 2027, there is currently no ODI series on India’s schedule.

ALSO READ: Star Batter Ignored In India's T20I Squad Against Afghanistan Smashes 125* From Just 47 Balls

That could leave a significant gap in India’s ODI calendar just months before the World Cup.

How much time will India have after IPL 2027?

The 2027 ODI World Cup is scheduled to begin on October 4. If the IPL 2027 finishes around the middle of May, India could have roughly four months to prepare for the tournament.

However, there is one possible interruption. India could qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 final, which is scheduled to start in London on June 13. Even if India play the WTC final, they would still have more than three months before the World Cup begins.

That window could give the BCCI enough time to arrange an ODI series in South Africa, potentially allowing India to get used to the conditions and fine-tune their squad before the 2027 World Cup.