SportsDay ahead
Christchurch T20I, a Gqeberha finale and Sindhu against Gunji on a busy Thursday
India start their New Zealand tour at lunchtime, South Africa chase six wickets to level their series with Australia, and Sindhu and Ayush Shetty play for French Open quarter-final places.
Key points
- India play New Zealand in the first T20I at Hagley Oval at 12:30 pm IST.
- South Africa need six wickets on the final day at Gqeberha; Australia trail by 170.
- P V Sindhu meets Riko Gunji and Ayush Shetty faces sixth seed Kodai Naraoka in Paris.
Thursday brings a full day of sport for Indian fans, from a lunchtime start in Christchurch to an evening in Paris.
Cricket: a new tour and a Test finale
India open their tour of New Zealand with the first of five T20Is at Hagley Oval, starting at 12:30 pm IST, 8 pm local time. Shreyas Iyer leads India against Mitchell Santner’s side at a ground where India have never played a T20I, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar back in the squad and questions over the opening pair. The match is on the Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV.
In Gqeberha, the second Test between South Africa and Australia reaches its final day with the home side on top. Australia, made to follow on after being bowled out for 99, are 156 for 4 and still 170 behind. Travis Head resumes on 87, while Steve Smith could not bat in the second innings on Wednesday because of a neck injury. Australia lead the series 1-0.
Badminton: second round in Paris
At the French Open, P V Sindhu plays Japan’s Riko Gunji for a place in the quarter-finals, a day after she held off Supanida Katethong 23-21 in the decider. Ayush Shetty, who knocked out Kidambi Srikanth, takes on Japan’s sixth seed Kodai Naraoka, who reached the second round when Lakshya Sen withdrew. Tanvi Sharma and Ashmita Chaliha are also in second-round action.
Para Games: day four in Nagoya
India’s para athletes go into the fourth day of the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya fifth in the medal table with 62 medals, 14 of them gold, after Praveen Kumar’s high jump title defence and Dilip Gavit Mahadu’s 100m win on Wednesday.