India Masters have become the champions of the first season of the International Masters League T20 after making light work of West Indies in the final on Sunday, March 16.
The Sachin Tendulkar-led Indian team chased down a middling total of 149 after facing a few jitters in the final at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur. Ambati Rayudu starred with the bat in the chase as he made 74 from 50 balls to help India win the tournament.
West Indies Master had won the toss and had opted to bat first. India Masters kept striking, however, Dwanye Smith held one end up and kept the scoreboard ticking. He made 45 from 35 balls as he was looking dangerous, however, the Indian spinners struck to pull the Windies back.
Lendl Simmons was looking threatening too. He cruised his way to 57 from 41 balls and was set to take the Windies to a stronger total, however, some mingy death over bowling from the Indian players saw the total being under 150.
India began the chase well. While Sachin Tendulkar was playing second fiddle, Ambati Rayudu took the game on. He slammed 74 from 50 balls, while Sachin made 25 from 18. His knock ensured India were always much ahead of West Indies. Stuart Binny and Yuvraj Singh also had some quality time spent as they took the Indian team home without much of an issue with six wickets in hand and 17 balls to go.
India Masters skipper Sachin Tendulkar was elated after the team registered the win. "Champions! From practice sessions to match days, every moment at the IMLT0 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," Sachin said after the match.
"The International Masters League has been an emotional journey—one that goes beyond just winning a trophy. Watching legends compete with the same passion and intensity, reliving their glory days while entertaining millions, has been truly surreal. What sets IML apart is not just the high-octane action, but the spirit of the game—the camaraderie, the friendships that transcend rivalries, and the reminder that cricket is more than just a sport; it’s an emotion that never fades. We are incredibly proud of what India Masters have achieved and deeply grateful to IML for creating a platform that rekindles the love for the game in such a spectacular way," team owners Salman Ahmed and Kartikey Mishra said on the win.
