Two of India’s greatest champions, Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh, are set to reunite on the field after a decade, donning the India blues once again.
The legendary duo will lead India Masters against Sri Lanka in the opening clash of the inaugural International Masters League (IML) at DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai, on Saturday.
Tendulkar, with over 34,000 international runs and 100 centuries, dominated the world of cricket for decades but played just one T20 International for India. That makes this tournament a rare spectacle for fans to witness him, in Indian colours, in the shortest format once again.
Yuvraj, meanwhile, excelled as a dynamic all-rounder in over 400 games, playing a crucial role in India’s most significant victories, including the 2011 World Cup and 2007 T20 World Cup.
Beginning February 22, the inaugural IML T20 2025 features six teams, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, England, West Indies, and South Africa. The competition will be staged across Navi Mumbai, Vadodara, and Raipur, with Raipur hosting the semi-finals and the final on March 16.
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“We had some unforgettable moments playing against Sri Lanka over the years, the 2011 World Cup being the most special amongst them, Tendulkar, captain of the India Masters Team, said.
“Stepping back onto the field after so many years, and facing a team that has been such a big part of our cricketing journey, makes this even more special,” he said.
Yuvraj added, “I can’t wait to step back onto the field again. India versus Sri Lanka has always been a high-intensity, thrilling contest, and I know the fans are just as excited as we are.
“With Sachin Paaji leading us against Sanga and the Sri Lankan team, it feels like stepping back in time, but with the same passion for the game. The fans are in for a treat, and we’re ready to put on a fantastic show,” he said.
The tournament will also see the Pathan brothers, Irfan and Yusuf, Stuart Binny, Dhawal Kulkarni, and more in action once again.
Teams List
India Masters:
Sachin Tendulkar (captain), Saurabh Tiwary, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Ambati Rayudu, Yuvraj Singh, Stuart Binny, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Pawan Negi, Naman Ojha, Abhimanyu Mithun, Dhawal Kulkarni, Rahul Sharma, Shahbaz Nadeem, Vinay Kumar.
Sri Lanka Masters:
Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Lahira Thirimanne, Upul Tharanga, Asela Gunaratne, Ashan Priyanjan, Chinthaka Jayasinghe, Chaturanga de Silva, Dilruwan Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Isuru Udana, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Seekkuge Prasanna, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal.