The International Masters League (IML) is a very exclusive twenty two (T20) cricket tournament in the world. It joins former/near-retirement international cricketing legends and provides fans with opportunities to see their favourite legends in a T20 cricket game again. The league was started in 2025 and has become a nostalgic delight among the lovers of Cricket. IML, which is co-owned by Indian legends Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar, is an amalgamation of nostalgia, entertainment, and competitive cricket. Its inaugural edition, which will take place in February, March 2025, saw six teams compete; matches will take place in Navi Mumbai, Vadodara and Raipur.
We will discuss about all information about International Masters League (IML) 2025: Teams , Winner, Venue, and more
What is the International Masters League?
The International Masters League (IML) is a twenty-two-league tailored to:
- Retired players
- Players close to retirement
- Ex-world cricketing superstars.
It is round-robin in nature and the best teams play the final of the tournament.
The league has been established bearing in mind that cricket enthusiasts are still eager to see their icons such as Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Sangakkar, Kallis and Watson play on a large scale once again.
International Masters League T20 Details
| Category | Details |
| Founded by | Sachin Tendulkar & Sunil Gavaskar |
| Administrator | Professional Management Group (PMG) |
| Partner Agency | Sportfive |
| Format | Twenty20 (T20) |
| First Edition | 2025 |
| Number of Teams | 6 |
| Tournament Type | Round Robin + Final |
| Current Champions | India Masters |
| Most Runs (2025) | Shane Watson – 361 |
| Most Wickets (2025) | Xavier Doherty – 10 & Ashley Nurse – 10 |
| Prize Money (Winner) | ₹1 Crore |
| TV Broadcasters | Colors Cineplex, 7plus, etc. |
History of the IML
IML was conceived in 2022, when Sachin Tendulkar told the global head of cricket at Sportfive about the idea. The plan was implemented to realize the huge nostalgia element of former cricketers.
In 2023, Sunil Gavaskar was part of the project. The initial edition was scheduled to start at the end of 2024 but was delayed to February 22 March 16, 2025, due to government regulation and legal requirements.
Franchise Cost
| Franchise | Cost |
| India Masters | ₹10 crore (US$1.2 million) |
| Other Teams | ₹5 crore (US$590,000) |
Prize Money Breakdown
| Category | Prize |
| Winners | ₹1 crore |
| Runners-Up | ₹50 lakh |
| Best Batter | ₹10 lakh |
| Best Bowler | ₹10 lakh |
| Player of the Tournament | ₹15 lakh |
Full Squad List of IML 2025
| Team | Players |
| India Masters | Sachin Tendulkar (C), Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Ambati Rayudu, Stuart Binny, Dhawal Kulkarni, Vinay Kumar, Shahbaz Nadeem, Rahul Sharma, Naman Ojha, Pawan Negi, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Abhimanyu Mithun, Saurabh Tiwary |
| West Indies Masters | Brian Lara (C), Dwayne Smith, Lendl Simmons, Denesh Ramdin, Chris Gayle, Chadwick Walton, Ashley Nurse, Narsingh Deonarine, Suleiman Benn, Fidel Edwards, Ravi Rampaul, Tino Best, Jerome Taylor, Kirk Edwards, William Perkins |
| Sri Lanka Masters | Kumar Sangakkara (C), Romesh Kaluwitharana, Ashan Priyanjan, Upul Tharanga, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Thirimanne, Chinthaka Jayasinghe, Seekkuge Prasanna, Jeevan Mendis, Isuru Udana, Dhammika Prasad, Suranga Lakmal, Dilruwan Perera, Asela Gunaratne, Chaturanga De Silva |
| England Masters | Eoin Morgan (C), Ian Bell, Philip Mustard, Tim Bresnan, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Chris Schofield, Monty Panesar, Ryan Sidebottom, Steven Finn, D Maddy, Stuart Meaker, Chris Tremlett, Tim Ambrose, Boyd Rankin, Joe Denly |
| South Africa Masters | Jacques Kallis (C), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Rudolph, Jonty Rhodes, Morne Van Wyk, Farhaan Behardien, Henry Davids, Thandi Tshabalala, Vernon Philander, Eddie Leie, Dane Vilas, Garnett Kruger, Makhaya Ntini |
| Australia Masters | Shane Watson (C), Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill, Ben Dunk, Daniel Christian, Ben Cutting, Nathan Reardon, Jason Krejza, Xavier Doherty, James Pattinson, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Callum Ferguson, Bryce McGain, Ben Hilfenhaus, Ben Laughlin |
Teams in International Masters League 2025
Six teams participated, each representing a major cricketing nation.
IML 2025 Teams & Captains
| Team | Captain |
| Australia Masters | Shane Watson |
| England Masters | Eoin Morgan |
| India Masters | Sachin Tendulkar |
| South Africa Masters | Jacques Kallis |
| Sri Lanka Masters | Kumar Sangakkara |
| West Indies Masters | Brian Lara |
These teams comprised of such legendary cricketer as:
- Brett Lee
- Muttiah Muralitharan
- Chris Gayle
- Harbhajan Singh
- TM Dilshan
- Ambati Rayudu
- Darren Sammy
and many more.
Format of the Tournament
The contest was in a simple and involving format:
- Round Robin Matches: All the teams competed against each other.
- Points Table Ranking: First-placed teams made it to the final.
- Grand Final: Performed in Raipur, in the presence of 50,000 people.
Unique Rules of IML
The IML made one modification to the conventional T20 specifications:
Modified Free Hit Rule
- In the event that a batter is bowled or caught on a free hit delivery, then there are no runs scored.
- The batter does not make his way out, but he will not be able to score in case of such dismissals.
- This regulation brought about some fascinating tactical situations all around the league.
International Masters League 2025 Final
International Masters League 2025 Final.
The final was held at:
- Time: 15.00 hours taking place at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium, Raipur.
- Attendance: 50,000 (full house)
Final Match Scorecard
| Team | Score | Result |
| West Indies Masters | 148/7 (20 overs) | — |
| India Masters | 149/4 (17.1 overs) | Won by 6 wickets |
Who Won the International Masters League 2025?
Winner: India Masters
The India Masters with Sachin Tendulkar as the leader and as the team-owner won the first IML in pursuit of 149.
Key contributors included:
- Ambati Rayudu – anchored the innings.
- Stuart Binny – Hit two mammoth sixes to the end.
- Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar- Bowling controlled.
International Masters League T20 2025 Prize Money Distribution
| Award | Prize |
| Winners – India Masters | ₹1 crore |
| Runners-Up – WI Masters | ₹50 lakh |
| Player of the Tournament | Shane Watson |
| Best Bowler | Xavier Doherty |
| Best Batsman | Shane Watson |
| Best Catch | Upul Tharanga |
Top Performers of IML 2025
Most Runs
| Player | Team | Runs |
| Shane Watson | Australia Masters | 361 |
| Upul Tharanga | SL Masters | 289 |
| Ambati Rayudu | India Masters | 240 |
Most Wickets
| Player | Team | Wickets |
| Xavier Doherty | Australia Masters | 10 |
| Ashley Nurse | West Indies Masters | 10 |
| Brett Lee | Australia Masters | 8 |
Venues Used in IML 2025
The grand final in Raipur saw one of the biggest crowds in a non-franchise T20 league.
| Venue | City |
| Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy | Navi Mumbai |
| BCA Stadium | Vadodara |
| SVNS International Cricket Stadium | Raipur |
International Masters League 2025 Points Table
| Team | Rank | Performance |
| India Masters | 1 | Champions |
| West Indies Masters | 2 | Runner-up |
| Sri Lanka Masters | 3 | Strong competition |
| Australia Masters | 4 | Mid-table |
| South Africa Masters | 5 | Below expectations |
| England Masters | 6 | Poor season |
International Masters League T20 2025 Broadcast Partners
IML gained worldwide visibility with multiple broadcasting platforms.
| Country | TV Channels | Online Streaming |
| India | Colors Cineplex, Colors Cineplex Superhits | JioCinema, Hotstar |
| Australia | — | 7plus |
| Sri Lanka | Local sports channels | Digital-only streaming |
Why the IML Stands Out
This is the reason why it was such a hit idea among the cricket enthusiasts:
1. Nostalgia Factor: Watch the repeats of such legends as Tendulkar, Lora, Sangakkara, Gayle.
2. High-quality Cricket: Players that had retired were also very fit and skilled.
3. Massive Crowd Engagement
- Crowded stadiums, emotional situations, and good social media buzz.
- Balanced Teams
- All cricketing countries have talent.
4. Unique Entertainment Value: Competition, fun and memories
Effects of International Masters League
1. The resurgence of Love to Classic Cricket
Older styles of cricketing fused with T20
strategies as perceived by fans.
2. Increased Masters League Market
IML can be the inspiration to other tournaments around the world.
3. Enhanced Fan Interaction
Young fans acquired knowledge about retired legends via highlights and interviews.
4. Increase in Local Tourism and Stadium Revenue.
The last weekend in Raipur recorded a huge growth in tourism.
Future Outlook of International Masters League
On the basis of the success of the first season, the fans anticipate:
- More teams
- New venues
- International versions not based in India.
- Women’s Masters League
- TV and digital expansion of rights.
- IML will expand to an annual cricket carnival as, with the interest of investors and global demand, there is a rise in world demand.
Conclusion
The International Masters League T20 2025 is a new form of cricket event which reintroduced the legends to the field in an electric format. Having the big names, filled stadiums, thrilling rules, and quality of cricket, the IML managed to win millions of hearts. The fact that India Masters won the first trophy in its history only made the moment even more special to the Indian fans. The league has established a good base to the upcoming seasons and it is certain that the league will be a stable part of the cricket calendar.
FAQs
It is a T20 cricket league of retired or near retirement international players.
Sachin Tendulkar is the head of India Masters.
Shane Watson with 361 runs.
Six teams.
Raipur, Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium.
Yes, there will be additional seasons, as per the popularity.
Read more:
Asia Cup 2025 India Squad: Official Team, Key Players, Strategy and More
Refresh Date: November 29, 2025
