Sachin Tendulkar reminisces ‘going back in time’ after India clinches first ever IML title. What ‘little master’ said…

Sachin Tendulkar rolled back the years with a scintillating knock, while Ambati Rayudu slammed a stylish fifty as India Masters dished out an allround show to beat West Indies Masters by six wickets and win the inaugural International Masters League, here on Sunday.

The Indian bowlers, led by Vinay Kumar (3-0-26-3) and Shahbaz Nadeem (4-1-12-2), had earlier set the tone, restricting West Indies Masters to a modest 148/7 after Brian Lara opted to bat.

In response, Tendulkar treated fans to a glimpse of his golden days, unleashing his signature strokes in his brief but memorable stay of 25 runs from 18 balls (2×4, 1×6).

Ambati Rayudu (74 in 50 balls; 9×4, 3×6), on the other end, held on to anchor the chase before Yuvraj Singh (13 not out) and Stuart Binny (15 not out) sealed the chase in 17.1 overs.

Opening the innings, Tendulkar was at his elegant best, executing a picture-perfect late cut to Jerome Taylor for four before following it up with an audacious upper-cut six over third man.

His copybook drive, flick, and ramp shot transported fans back to his prime.

He raced to 23 off just 14 balls, thrilling the crowd with his effortless strokeplay.

However, his sparkling innings was cut short when he mistimed a pull off Tino Best, finding Chadwick Walton at fine-leg.

By then, he had put India Masters in complete control, forging a 67-run opening stand in just 7.5 overs.

Rayudu anchored the chase with a composed knock, ensuring there were no hiccups.

He too showcased his attacking prowess, smashing a flat six off Taylor, while Yuvraj Singh played a fluent hand to guide India Masters home comfortably.

Vinay, Nadeem lead bowling charge

=========================

In a Sachin vs Lara face off, the West Indies Masters looked set for a 180-plus total as Dwayne Smith (45 off 35 balls, 6×4, 2×6) took charge, while Lara played second fiddle opening the innings.

The duo were in top gear at 34 from 22 balls before Vinay Kumar halted Lara’s innings.

But they reached 52/1 in the powerplay, with Smith tearing into Negi for 15 runs in an over.

However, the left-arm spinner Nadeem struck at the right time, castling Smith with a delivery that skidded on as he played for the turn.

Vinay Kumar was the standout performer, dismissing Lara (6) early and returning at the death to claim the prized wicket of their top-scorer Lendl Simmons (57 off 41 balls, 5×4, 1×6).

His precision and variation ensured West Indies Masters struggled in the final overs, managing just 35 runs while losing two wickets.

Negi (1/30 in 3 overs) and Stuart Binny (1/11 in 2 overs) also played supporting roles, restricting the opposition to a below-par total.

Despite Simmons’ fighting fifty and a 61-run stand with Denesh Ramdin (12 not out), West Indies Masters lacked the finishing touch, setting the stage for Sachin’s nostalgic masterclass and India Masters’ emphatic title triumph.

West Indies Masters 148/7; 20 overs (Lendl Simmons 57, Dwayne Smith 45; Vinay Kumar 3/26, Shahbaz Nadeem 2/12) lost to India Masters 149/4; 17.1 overs (Ambati Rayudu 74, Sachin Tendulkar 25) by six wickets.