Sports

The Ice Hockey League has become a focal point of winter life in Leh, with families, local supporters, and players gathering throughout the day to follow the games, celebrate their teams, and experience the sport's collective energy. The increasing attendance reflects the League's growing role as not just a competition but a shared community event during Ladakh's winter months.

India's highest T20I score against a Test playing nation is 297/6 against Bangladesh which they hit in 2024 at Hyderabad. The highest score in T20Is against a Test playing nation is by England, who smashed 304/2 against South Africa in Manchester last year.

After Sanju Samson failed to make his mark in his home state, Ishan (103 in 43 balls, with six fours and 10 sixes), skipper Surya (63 in 30 balls, with four boundaries and six sixes) and Hardik Pandya (42 in 17 balls, with a four and four sixes) played entertaining knocks to take India to a massive total.

Surya, who has made a triumphant return to form and displayed the ruthless, 360-degree and innovative side of his game, which made him one of the finest T20I batters not so long ago, achieved this milestone during his side's fifth T20I against New Zealand at Thiruvananthapuram, scoring a 30-ball 63, with four boundaries and six sixes, scoring at a strike rate of 210.00.

The winner of this clash will earn a place in the semifinal. With India at the second spot with three wins in three matches in their Super Six Group two, they are just one win away from joining England, Australia and Afghanistan in the final four. However, if they lose, they will at the mercy of the net-run-rate, with both Pakistan (currently at four points with two wins and a loss in three matches) and India at six points. Also, the young Indian stars will be aiming to avenge their loss in the title clash of the U19 Asia Cup last year, where they were crushed by Pakistan by 191 runs in Dubai.

Harpreet Brar takes a four-wicket haul, KL Rahul and Shreyas Gopal hit fifties, Ruturaj Gaikwad scored a 19-ball duck on his birthday, and Shahbaz Ahmed's 11-wicket haul in Bengal's win over Haryana in the ongoing Ranji Trophy on Day 3.