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Sachin Tendulkar's India Masters notched a thrilling four-run win over Sri Lanka Masters in the inaugural International Masters League (IML 2025) on February 22. India Masters rode on Stuart Binny's 31-ball 68 and Yusuf Pathan's 22-ball 56 to help India Masters post a massive total of 222/4. In reply, Sri Lanka Masters fell just four runs short of the target and were restricted to 218/9 despite Kumar Sangakkara's brilliant 30-ball 51.
There was no shortage of excitement to the electrifying contest as the stalwarts from either side were right on the money, and the match went down to the wire, treating the crowd with a perfect glimpse of the kind of high-octane cricket matches that the inaugural season of the IML has to offer.
Sachin turns back the clock
The proceedings began with batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar being invited to bat by his opposite number Kumar Sangakkara, and the iconic batter getting India off to a flyer with a couple of boundaries, before rollicking half centuries from Stuart Binny and Yusuf Pathan, and cameos from Gurkeerat Singh Mann and Yuvraj Singh propelled the hosts to the massive total.
Opening the innings with Ambati Rayudu, Sachin walked up to the trademark thunderous applause from the jam-packed crowd, and reciprocated the love with two effortless boundaries in the first over off Isuru Udana before being dismissed.
Thereafter, Stuart Binny and Gurkeerat Singh Mann sent the Sri Lanka bowlers to the leather hunt, to raise an 87-run stand for the third wicket and set the tone. Binny blasted a 31-ball 68, laced with seven massive sixes and three boundaries while Mann missed his half century by six runs, but his 32-ball knock, containing seven fours ensured that the team reached 113 by the 12th over. After his departure, Yuvraj Singh joined Binny in the middle to add 33 runs.
Yuvraj's vintage touch
There were glimpses of the vintage Yuvraj using the long handle to full use, as the southpaw mixed elegance with power, slamming a couple of sixes and fours for an unbeaten 22-ball 31, before Yusuf Pathan, the new man, outscored his partner with his lusty power-hitting. Going by his range of shots, it never appeared that Yusuf has retired from cricket as the Baroda right-hander smoked six breathtaking sixes and three boundaries for his undefeated 56 off 22 balls to power India to the gigantic total.
For the Sri Lanka Masters, Suranga Lakmal was the pick of the bowlers taking a couple of wickets even as none of the bowlers escaped the wrath of the India batters.
In response, skipper Sangakkara led Sri Lanka Masters’ chase with a graceful yet power-packed 30-ball 51, and more importantly set the platform with a 61-run second wicket stand with Lahiru Thirimanne, who came up with a 17-ball 24. However, Irfan Pathan’s introduction changed the complexion of the game in a couple of overs, as the left-arm quick accounted for three quick wickets, including the scalps of Sangakkara and Chaturanga de Silva off consecutive deliveries to apply the brakes.
SL's fierce fightback
Despite the setbacks, Asela Gunaratne (37 off 25 balls) and Jeevan Mendis (42 off 17) kept the tourists’ on the hunt with a 68-run stand for the sixth wicket before Dhawal Kulkarni broke the stand to bring some respite for the Indian dugout. Isuru Udana’s 7-ball 23, including a first ball six did tilt the tide in the favour of the visitors, before Vinay Kumar’s slower one brought the smiles back to the crowd.
The intensity of the match could be gauged by the fact that the equation was down to Sri Lanka needing 9 off the final six deliveries, but Abhimanyu Mithun held his nerves to pick two wickets in exchange for five runs to script India’s victory.
