IML 2025-Australia Masters Dominate India Masters In Spite Of Tendulkar's Blazing Fifty

Cricket is a rivalry sport, and few have the stature of India-Australia battles. The ages-old conflict between the two once again lit up the glaring floodlights of the BCA Stadium in Vadodara with the stadium witnessing a match which was all set to be an eternal classic. The battle between Australia Masters and India Masters in International Masters League (IML) 2025 was replete with awe-inspiring performances, thrilling stroke cricket, and images that sent fans of the sport around the world into nostalgic dreams. Yet, in spite of a blinder of a fifty by Sachin Tendulkar, India Masters fell victims to a rout of 95 runs, courtesy an all-around performance by the Australian Masters guided by their strike pair, Shane Watson and Ben Dunk.

Australia Masters' Batting Brilliance

Winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Australia Masters started off on a solid note but soon made the game a show of power-hitting. Shaun Marsh started the proceedings with a series of boundaries in the initial overs before getting out for a 15-ball 22. But that was the only piece of happiness for the bowlers of India Masters, as Watson and Dunk opened up and went on a batting spree that left the rival team shell-shocked.

Dunk arrived at No.3 and stamped his presence straight away with a towering six over midwicket. Watson, for his part, had his lucky moment when he was dropped in the early part of his innings by wicketkeeper Naman Ojha. That escape cost dearly, for the Australian pair went on to establish an unbeaten 236-run second-wicket partnership—the highest-ever in T20 cricket for that wicket. Watson batted anchor first, letting Dunk go at a better pace. The 37-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman made the India Masters' bowling unit look foolish, racing to a 23-ball half-century before Watson also followed with a 29-ball fifty.

Once both the batters had settled down, they changed gears and made the stadium a showpiece of sixes and boundaries. Watson scored his century in 47 balls, while Dunk was even more aggressive, scoring the fastest century of the tournament in only 43 balls. Their persistent batting took Australia Masters to a huge score of 269/1 at the end of 20 overs, and India Masters were left with a giant task on their hands.

Tendulkar's Masterclass in Vain

Pursuing a formidable target, India Masters required a scorching start, and who else but the great Sachin Tendulkar to spearhead the attack? The crowd went wild as Tendulkar turned back the clock, sending a series of stunning strokes that were reminiscent of his heyday. From delicate late cuts to trademark straight drives, he gave spectators a retro performance that revived memories of his legendary Desert Storm innings in Sharjah.

The 'Master Blaster' hit his half-century in 27 balls, going against the Australian bowlers with ease. He went on with his counter-attack, hitting seven fours and four sixes, making sure India Masters remained in contention. But wickets continued to fall at the other end, making the run-chase more and more challenging. The turning point was when Xavier Doherty pulled off a stunning catch off Daniel Christian's bowling, sending Tendulkar back to the pavilion for a stunning 64 off 33 balls. His fall created a huge void in the batting order, and though Yusuf Pathan tried a gallant 15-ball 25, the rest of the batting order collapsed under the pressure.

Doherty Spins a Web Around India Masters

With such a huge target to pursue, India Masters required their middle-order to deliver, but Australia's bowlers, spearheaded by Xavier Doherty, saw to it that that was not the case. The left-arm spinner was the game-changer, taking five wickets for only 25 runs—the first five-wicket haul of the tournament. His spell destroyed the Indian batting, leaving them with no possibility of coming back. Finally, India Masters were packed off well short of the target, their first loss in the tournament by a 95-run margin.

A Rivalry That Never Fails to Entertain

The match was a thrilling contest that underscored the fierce competitive spirit between India and Australia, a rivalry that has defined cricketing history for decades. Adding to the intrigue, this game came just a day after the current Indian team secured a dramatic victory over Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal in Dubai. It was a poetic reminder that no matter the era, the intensity of this battle remains unchanged.

Although India Masters lost this time, the glory of Sachin Tendulkar's performance and the raw power of Watson and Dunk made sure that the game would be talked about for years to come. With the tournament reaching the knockout phases, fans are in for more fireworks as these cricketing giants continue to enchant on the big stage of the International Masters League 2025.