The match at a glance
The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 runs from 2 October to 21 November 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia — 14 teams, 57 matches, 12 venues. India vs Pakistan is the headline fixture of the group stage: Sunday 10 October 2027, 10:00 SAST (UTC+2), Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. It is a Group A match — India are pre-seeded A1 and Pakistan A3 — and the two sides meet again in the Super 7 on Sunday 7 November at Newlands, Cape Town, if both get that far. Wanderers also hosts the final on Sunday 21 November, so Johannesburg is the city the whole tournament builds towards.
Pakistan's group campaign starts two days earlier, on Friday 8 October against Afghanistan at SuperSport Park, Centurion — a short trip north of Johannesburg — so fans flying in for the India match can sensibly catch the opener too.
Getting there: flights to Johannesburg
There are no direct flights from Pakistan to South Africa. The realistic routings all connect once: via Dubai, Doha, Istanbul or Addis Ababa, landing at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Fly in at least a day before the match — an overnight delay on a connection is the one thing that can cost you the game, and the 10:00 start leaves no slack on the morning itself.
From O.R. Tambo, the Gautrain runs to Sandton and central Johannesburg in under half an hour. Wanderers Stadium is in Illovo, close to Sandton and Rosebank, so a hotel in either area keeps the match-day trip to a short ride-hailing or shuttle ride. On match day itself, leave early: India vs Pakistan fills the roads around the ground, and the stadium gates open well before the first ball.
Visa for Pakistani fans
Pakistani passport holders need a visa for South Africa — there is no visa on arrival. The good news is that Pakistan is on South Africa's eVisa list, so you apply online through the Department of Home Affairs eVisa portal instead of lodging a paper application. Apply several weeks before you fly: processing takes several business days, and you should allow extra margin around busy periods. South Africa asks for a passport valid at least 30 days after you leave the country, with two blank pages, plus proof you can support yourself — typically three months of bank statements — and your accommodation booking or return ticket.
Two cautions. First, South Africa's newer Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), launched in October 2025, covers China, India, Indonesia and Mexico — Pakistan is not on the ETA list, so the eVisa is the route for Pakistani passports. Second, Pakistani passport holders have needed a transit visa even for airside connections at South African airports, so if your routing connects through Johannesburg on the way somewhere else, check the current transit rule with the Department of Home Affairs before you book.
Where to stay in Johannesburg
Stay near the stadium, not in the city centre. Sandton is the closest big hotel hub — it has the Gautrain station, the most rooms, and the shortest ride to Wanderers — and Rosebank is the quieter alternative on the same train line. Melrose sits between the two and is closest of all to the ground. Book a refundable room early: India vs Pakistan is the highest-demand match of the tournament, and the rooms nearest the stadium will be the first to go. If you are also catching the Afghanistan match on 8 October, the same base works — Centurion is a straightforward drive north from Sandton.
Halal food in Johannesburg
Johannesburg is one of the easiest cities in the world for a Muslim traveller to eat well. Fordsburg, known as Little India, is the heart of it — halal restaurants, butchers and mosques within a few streets, with Indian, Pakistani and Middle Eastern food. Mayfair is the other hub: the family-run Turkish Kebab House and Butchery there is fully halal with no alcohol served, and the area has Pakistani restaurants too. Look for SANHA or MJC halal certification on the door or menu — South Africa's two main certifiers — and ask at the branch, because many Nando's outlets are halal while some are not. For prayer, the Nizamiye Mosque in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, is the largest mosque in the Southern Hemisphere and worth the short drive.
Match day at Wanderers
The match starts at 10:00 SAST, so plan to be at the ground early — the India-Pakistan crowd arrives in waves and the queues at the gates are part of the day. October is spring in Johannesburg: warm days, cool mornings, and the chance of an afternoon shower, so bring sun protection and a light layer. Eat before you go or plan to eat after: check the halal options inside the stadium in advance, and if you are unsure, eat in Fordsburg before the match and celebrate (or recover) there afterwards. Keep valuables out of sight and use trusted transport after the game rather than walking away from the ground at night.
Planning the trip budget
No honest guide can quote you a price a year out — flights, hotels and the ballot all move. Plan around the cost lines instead: international flights, hotel nights, the match ticket, food, and local transport. Work out the rand total first, then run it through our currency converter to see the real number in rupees — the exchange rate is what surprises most travellers. If you are saving for the trip month by month, our savings goal calculator turns the total and the date into a weekly or monthly amount, and the days-between-dates calculator counts down to 10 October 2027.
❓ India vs Pakistan Johannesburg FAQs
When is India vs Pakistan at the 2027 Cricket World Cup?
Sunday 10 October 2027, starting at 10:00 SAST, at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. It is a Group A match, match 9 of the tournament's 57 matches.
Do Pakistani fans need a visa for South Africa?
Yes. Pakistani passport holders need a visa, and Pakistan is on South Africa's eVisa list, so you apply online through the Department of Home Affairs eVisa portal well before you travel. There is no visa on arrival for Pakistani citizens.
How do I get to Wanderers Stadium from the airport?
Fly into O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, then take the Gautrain to Sandton. Wanderers Stadium is in Illovo, a short ride from Sandton and Rosebank by ride-hailing or hotel shuttle.
Where should Pakistani fans stay in Johannesburg?
Sandton or Rosebank. Both sit on the Gautrain line, are close to Wanderers Stadium, and have halal food nearby. Book a refundable room early — India vs Pakistan is the highest-demand match of the tournament.
Is halal food easy to find in Johannesburg?
Yes. Fordsburg, known as Little India, has halal restaurants, butchers and mosques, and Mayfair has halal Turkish and Pakistani food. Look for SANHA or MJC halal certification, and ask at the branch — many Nando's outlets are halal.
Can I buy tickets for India vs Pakistan?
Tickets for the 2027 World Cup are sold through the ICC's official ticket ballot, which opened on 1 October 2026 and closes at 23:59 SAST on 21 November 2026. There is no general public sale. This guide links no ticket sellers.
What is the weather like in Johannesburg in October?
October is spring in Johannesburg: warm days, cool mornings, and the chance of an afternoon shower. Bring sun protection and a light layer for the morning and evening.
Will India and Pakistan meet again in the tournament?
If both teams reach the Super 7 stage, they meet again on Sunday 7 November 2027 at Newlands in Cape Town. The final is on Sunday 21 November at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg.
More Cricket World Cup 2027 guides: Cricket World Cup 2027 Guide for Pakistani Fans · Cricket World Cup 2027 Schedule & Venues
Sources
- ICC — "ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 schedule revealed and ballot system opens", 1 October 2026: icc-cricket.com
- Department of Home Affairs, Republic of South Africa — eVisa portal: ehome.dha.gov.za
- ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 schedule reference (fixtures cross-checked with Wikipedia), compiled 27 October 2026: talent-hunt.net
- Muslim travel guide to South Africa — halal food and mosques: tayyebahacademy.com
- Turkish Kebab House and Butchery, Mayfair, Johannesburg — halal restaurant guide: inyourpocket.com