KKN Gurugram Desk | The International Masters League (IML) 2025 saw an exhilarating final between two cricketing legends, India Masters led by Sachin Tendulkar and West Indies Masters led by Brian Lara. In a match full of nostalgia, skill, and sheer cricketing brilliance, India Masters emerged victorious, defeating West Indies Masters by 6 wickets. The final match was played at the SVNS International Stadium, with an impressive crowd of nearly 50,000 fans in attendance. India Masters chased down the target of 149 runs set by West Indies Masters with 17 balls to spare, clinching the inaugural IML title.
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The Stage Set for a Classic Final
The final was a fitting culmination to what had been an exciting tournament. India Masters, led by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, took on West Indies Masters, captained by the iconic Brian Lara. Both teams were filled with cricketing legends, and the match had all the ingredients to be a classic showdown.
West Indies Masters won the toss and chose to bat first. Their innings got off to a steady start, but India Masters’ bowlers kept the pressure on. The West Indies Masters finished their innings at 148/7, with Lendl Simmons’ half-century being the highlight of their batting performance. The India Masters bowlers, led by the experienced Irfan Pathan and Vinay Kumar, put up an excellent show, ensuring that the West Indies Masters could not build a big total.
India Masters Set a Strong Chase
Chasing a target of 149 runs, India Masters began their innings in aggressive fashion. The opening partnership between Sachin Tendulkar and Ambati Rayudu set the tone for the chase. With a packed stadium cheering them on, the duo put together a quick-fire 67-run stand, giving India Masters the perfect foundation to chase down the target.
Tendulkar, who had entertained the crowd with his trademark cover drives and flicks, played a brief but impactful knock of 25 runs from 18 balls. His knock included two boundaries and a six. However, his innings was cut short when Tino Best dismissed him. Despite Tendulkar’s dismissal, Rayudu continued to anchor the innings with excellent stroke play.
Rayudu, in particular, was in superb form, displaying both aggressive and calculated batting. He dealt with the West Indies Masters’ bowlers with great ease and was the key to India Masters’ pursuit of the target. He reached his half-century in just 34 balls, hitting 9 fours and 3 sixes. His impressive innings continued to entertain the fans, who were fully engaged in the match.
Key Partnerships Propel India Masters to Victory
Ambati Rayudu was joined by Gurkeerat Singh Mann in the middle, and the duo added 28 crucial runs for the second wicket. Mann’s brief but effective partnership with Rayudu came to an end when he was dismissed by West Indies Masters’ off-spinner Ashley Nurse.
With the fall of Mann’s wicket, the experienced Yuvraj Singh walked in to join Rayudu. The pair looked comfortable at the crease, and their partnership ensured India Masters stayed on track to win. Rayudu, however, was soon dismissed by Suleiman Benn, after an excellent knock that included several boundaries and towering sixes.
The wicket of Rayudu was a minor setback for India Masters, but they were still on course for victory. Yusuf Pathan, who joined Yuvraj Singh, was quickly dismissed by Nurse, but the end was almost in sight. Stuart Binny, coming in at No. 7, played an important knock of 15 not out from 10 balls. His two big sixes sealed the win for India Masters, who chased down the target with ease, finishing with 149/4 in just 17.5 overs.
West Indies Masters’ Batting Struggles
Before the chase, West Indies Masters had struggled to build partnerships during their innings. Lendl Simmons was the standout performer with the bat, scoring a half-century, but none of the other batsmen could make a significant contribution. The experienced West Indies lineup could not find the rhythm they needed, and India Masters’ bowlers were able to capitalize on that.
West Indies Masters finished with a total of 148/7, a modest total that was never going to be enough against a strong India Masters side. Despite a valiant effort from their bowlers, West Indies Masters could not defend the target, and India Masters cruised to a 6-wicket victory in the final of the IML 2025.
Key Performances in the Final
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India Masters’ Batting: Ambati Rayudu was the star of the chase, with his blistering knock of 74 runs off 50 balls. His innings was a perfect mix of aggression and control. Sachin Tendulkar played a brief but memorable innings, contributing 25 runs. Stuart Binny’s cameo of 15 not out was also crucial in finishing the game.
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West Indies Masters’ Batting: Lendl Simmons was the standout batsman for West Indies Masters, scoring 51 runs off 42 balls. However, the rest of the batting lineup failed to contribute significantly, leaving their bowlers with little to defend.
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India Masters’ Bowling: Irfan Pathan and Vinay Kumar led the bowling attack for India Masters, keeping the pressure on West Indies Masters throughout their innings. Pathan finished with figures of 2/28, while Kumar chipped in with 1/32.
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West Indies Masters’ Bowling: Ashley Nurse and Tino Best were the pick of the bowlers for West Indies Masters. Nurse took 1/34, while Best claimed 1/38. However, their efforts weren’t enough to defend the total, as India Masters’ batsmen dominated the chase.
Team Line-ups for the Final
West Indies Masters (Playing XI):
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Dwayne Smith
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William Perkins
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Lendl Simmons
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Brian Lara (Captain)
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Chadwick Walton
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Dinesh Ramdin (Wicketkeeper)
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Ashley Nurse
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Tino Best
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Jerome Taylor
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Suleiman Benn
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Ravi Rampaul
India Masters (Playing XI):
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Ambati Rayudu (Wicketkeeper)
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Sachin Tendulkar (Captain)
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Pawan Negi
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Yuvraj Singh
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Stuart Binny
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Yusuf Pathan
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Irfan Pathan
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Gurkeerat Singh Mann
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Vinay Kumar
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Shahbaz Nadeem
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Dhawal Kulkarni
The final of the IML 2025 was a testament to the rich cricketing history of both India and the West Indies. India Masters, under the leadership of Sachin Tendulkar, proved to be the superior side, defeating West Indies Masters by 6 wickets. Ambati Rayudu’s brilliant batting and the support from Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, and Stuart Binny guided India Masters to a well-deserved victory.
With such a memorable final, the inaugural season of the IML 2025 has set high standards for future editions. The thrilling contest, nostalgic moments, and superb performances from both teams made this final an unforgettable one for cricket fans worldwide. As India Masters lift the first-ever IML trophy, cricket fans eagerly await the next edition of the league.
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