Yuvraj Singh Fires India Masters Into International Masters League 2025 Semi-Final
by Devesh Jaganath | by Cydias Aujard
Age-Old Rivalry: India Masters to Face Australia in IML 2025 Semi-Final
Just 24 hours before the India national team secured their third ICC Champions Trophy title in Dubai against New Zealand, the India Masters side delivered a masterful performance to beat the West Indies Masters and end the group stage second with eight points, level with leaders with Sri Lanka.
India Masters laid a strong foundation with a dominant batting performance, fueled by explosive half-centuries from Ambati Rayudu (63 off 35) and Saurabh Tiwary (60 off 37) before Yuvraj Singh's late heroics (an unbeaten 49 off 20) took the team to a formidable total of 253/3 in their 20-over allotment.
In reply, the West Indies Masters came out firing, with Dwayne Smith (79) and William Perkins (52) leading the charge, posting an excellent 121-run opening stand. However, just as the visitors seemed to be moving into the ascendancy, Stuart Binny stepped up to stop their momentum, bagging three wickets in two overs to earn the Player of the Match award.
The victory was India’s fourth in the tournament and propelled them into the final four, where they will face the Australia Masters. Notably, the men from Down Under are the only team to have beaten the Blue Shirts in this competition, doing so by 95 runs back in match nine of the tournament in Vadodara.
Central to Australia’s success in the 2025 IML has been the performance of Shane Watson. The Baggy Greens’ skipper has notched up an incredible 355 runs in four innings, scoring three centuries while averaging a mammoth 177.50 at a strike rate of 199.43. Watson has also blasted 33 fours and 25 sixes, and he currently sits atop the leading run-scorer standings.
With the ball in hand, Ben Laughlin and Pawan Negi have been chief contributors for their nations. Both players have bagged seven scalps apiece in 66 and 84 balls, respectively, and they trail the current leading wicket-taker, Ravi Rampaul of the West Indies Masters, by two wickets leading up to the knockout phase of the competition.
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Will Sachin Tendulkar Play in the IML 2025 Semis?
Much to the disappointment of the thousands of fans who turned up to watch their idol in action, Sachin Tendulkar remained on the bench for India Masters’ clash with the West Indies last time out. Yuvraj Singh took charge at the toss, stepping in as stand-in skipper in Tendulkar’s absence.
Explaining the decision, Yuvraj revealed that the Little Master had picked up a minor niggle after his previous match against Australia, leading to his omission. Additionally, with India Masters having already secured their spot in the semis, there was no reason to rush him back into action and risk aggravating his knock.
Tendulkar has had a mixed tournament so far, accumulating 114 runs in four innings at an average of 28.50. While he has endured two low scores, his standout performance came against Australia, where he hammered a quickfire 64 off 33 balls. The Master Blaster is expected to return to the team for the semi-final this week.
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