India Masters emerged victorious in the inaugural International Masters League (IML) 2025 on Sunday, March 1. The victory comes after India defeated West Indies Masters by six wickets. The iconic match was held at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur. The match rekindled the magic of cricket’s golden era. Nearly 50,000 fans participated to witness an unforgettable match.
Sachin’s Upper-cut Shot
However, the highlight of the day came from the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar turned the clock back with a stunning upper-cut shot for six. This created a moment of nostalgia among the fans remembering his iconic stroke against Shoaib Akhtar during the 2003 World Cup.
Sachin’s execution of the shot off Jerome Taylor came during the final over of the powerplay. The powerful shot sent the crowd into a frenzy, as it brought back memories of his golden years on the international stage. The ‘God of Cricket’ , Tendulkar, scored 25 off 18 balls, combined with Ambati Rayudu. Rayudu made a solid score of 74 runs in 50 balls. These scores provided India Masters with a strong foundation in their chase of 149 runs.
All Eyes on Tendulkar
‘Master Blaster’, Sachin Tendulkar, captained the match, capturing all the attention. Following the match he took to social media to celebrate the victory. He mentioned the experience of playing alongside some of cricket’s greatest players. In a post on X he wrote, “From practice sessions to match days, every moment at the @imlt20official seemed like going back in time. It felt incredible to be back on the pitch alongside some of the game’s greatest players. I’m grateful to everyone who made this experience so memorable, including the spectators, organizers, and my India Masters teammates.”
C.H.A.Μ.Ρ.I.Ο.N.S 🏆
From practice sessions to match days, every moment at the @imlt20official seemed like going back in time. It felt incredible to be back on the pitch alongside some of the game’s greatest players. I’m grateful to everyone who made this experience so… pic.twitter.com/oPNPKWYSzs
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 16, 2025
Tendulkar was in sublime form while opening the innings. He effortlessly executed a strong and flawless late cut to Jerome Taylor for four. This was followed by a daring upper-cut six over third man. The eye catching textbook drives, flicks, and ramp shots brought back memories of Sachin’s golden era of cricket.
23 Runs off 14 Balls
Quickly racing to 23 off just 14 balls, Sachin captivated the crowd with his smooth strokeplay. Soon his innings ended when he mistimed a pull shot off Tino Best. This gave Chadwick Walton a catch at fine leg. However by that point, he had already put India Masters in a commanding position, forming a 67-run opening partnership in just 7.5 overs.
