The long-awaited International Masters League (IML) has finally arrived, launching its first season in 2025. A tournament that reunites legendary cricketers from around the world, the IML will be a tribute to the sport’s glorious past and legendary players who made it what it is today. The tournament, starting on February 22, 2025, and continuing through March 16, 2025, has already caught the imagination of cricket fans across the world.
An All-Star Tournament with Major Sponsors
The IML has managed to sign up some major players in the sponsorship arena, with the Bank of Baroda and CIFDAQ Global as sponsors for the tournament. There will be a game each day at 7:30 PM IST, further fuelling the competition. With six teams comprising cricket legends, the tournament will have a total of 18 games, including two edge-of-the-seat semi-finals and a final confrontation.
The teams will be playing in round-robin, where each team will play each other once. The top four teams will advance to the semi-finals, and then to the final, where the first-ever IML champion will be decided.
Three Iconic Venues Across India
The match will be played over three of India’s topmost cricket venues, which are the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai, Reliance Stadium in Vadodara, and Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur. The facilities will accommodate the world’s greatest cricketers, enhancing the glamour of the event. IML’s focus is to celebrate the lives of these cricket legends and create an unbreakable moment for viewers around the world.
The Teams and Their Captains: Meet the Legends
One of the most exciting aspects of the IML is the opportunity to watch cricketing icons of the past take the field once again. The announcement of the league last year, including the news that Sachin Tendulkar was back in the nets preparing for the tournament, sent waves of excitement through the cricketing community. Here’s a look at the teams and their captains:
1. India Masters – Led by Sachin Tendulkar
Players are: Yuvraj Singh, Ambati Rayudu, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Stuart Binny, Dhawal Kulkarni, Vinay Kumar, and others.
2. Australia Masters – Led by Shane Watson
Players are: Callum Ferguson, Shaun Marsh, Ben Cutting, Dan Christian, Ben Dunk, and others.
3. Sri Lanka Masters – Led by Kumar Sangakkara
Players are: Romesh Kaluwitharana, Ashan Priyanjan, Upul Tharanga, Nuwan Pradeep, and others.
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4. West Indies Masters – Led by Brian Lara
Players are: Chris Gayle, Kirk Edwards, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Fidel Edwards, and others.
5. South Africa Masters – Led by Jacques Kallis
Players are: Alviro Petersen, Farhaan Behardien, Hashim Amla, Vernon Philander, and others.
6. England Masters – Led by Eoin Morgan
Players are: Ian Bell, Darren Maddy, Tim Bresnan, Boyd Rankin, Chris Schofield, and more.
These teams combine batting genius, bowling talent, and unmatched cricketing experience, assuring an exciting competition throughout.
The Format: How It Works
The International Masters League 2025 schedule will be based on a round-robin type format, wherein every team competes against the other five teams a single time. The four teams with the most points earned will qualify to reach the semi-finals. Every team has a reasonable opportunity of proceeding to the final rounds in the competition thanks to the given format.
International Masters League 2025 Schedule: Set Your Calendars Alight
Here is the exhaustive schedule for the match dates in the IML 2025:
– Feb 22, 2025: Sri Lanka Masters vs India Masters – D.Y. Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
– Feb 24, 2025: West Indies Masters vs Australia Masters – D.Y. Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
– Feb 25, 2025: England Masters vs India Masters – D.Y. Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
– Feb 26, 2025: South Africa Masters vs Sri Lanka Masters – D.Y. Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
– Feb 27, 2025: West Indies Masters vs England Masters – D.Y. Patil Stadium, Navi Mumba
– Feb 28, 2025: Sri Lanka Masters vs Australia Masters – BCA Stadium, Vadodara
– Mar 1, 2025: India Masters vs South Africa Masters – BCA Stadium, Vadodara
– Mar 3, 2025: England Masters vs South Africa Masters – BCA Stadium, Vadodara
– Mar 5, 2025: Australia Masters vs India Masters – BCA Stadium, Vadodara
– Mar 6, 2025: West Indies Masters vs Sri Lanka Masters – BCA Stadium, Vadodara
– Mar 7, 2025: South Africa Masters vs Australia Masters – BCA Stadium, Vadodara
– Mar 8, 2025: India Masters versus West Indies Masters – Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur
– Mar 10, 2025: Sri Lanka Masters versus England Masters – Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur
– Mar 11, 2025: West Indies Masters versus South Africa Masters – Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur
– Mar 12, 2025: England Masters vs Australia Masters – Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur
– Mar 13, 2025: Semifinal 1 (1st vs 4th) – Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur
– Mar 14, 2025: Semifinal 2 (2nd vs 3rd) – Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur
– Mar 16, 2025: Final – Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur
Where to Watch the International Masters League 2025
All the action can be watched live through the JioHotstar app and website, where the tournament will be streamed. The matches will also be telecast on Colors Cineplex and Colors Cineplex Superhits TV channels in India, bringing the thrill right to your screens.
Get Your Tickets for the IML
The tickets for the IML can be purchased from BookMyShow, which is the partner for tickets. The fans are advised to do so quickly since tickets are likely to sell out very soon. It is simple to buy tickets on the BookMyShow app or the website to enjoy the action in the stadium or watch it from your living room.
A Tournament to Remember
The International Masters League 2025 will be a cricketing spectacle to remember, with the best of the sport’s all-time greats. As anticipation reaches fever pitch, supporters can hardly wait to see their idols return on the field. Coupled with the finest world cricket, the legendary cricketers, and the finest venues, the IML is an event not to be missed for cricket enthusiasts around the globe.
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