IML 2025: Rahul Sharma hat-trick lead India Masters to 8-wicket win vs South Africa Masters

At the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) Stadium in Vadodara, the site of the second leg of the first International Masters League 2025, the action was transported back to the heyday of India’s dominance in spin, highlighted by leg-spinner Rahul Sharma’s historic hat-trick, which helped India Masters defeat South Africa Masters by eight wickets and extend their winning streak in the competition.

One aspect of the situation stayed constant despite the nostalgia: the competitive fire persisted. The want to win was just as strong even though the reflexes and foot speed were not as good. Millions were captivated by the same emotion that permeated every run, every wicket, and every dive.

A memorable evening for the crowded audience was created by the presence of the legendary Sir Vivian Richards.

Even when age has caught up, the spirit of war will always prevail. With Sachin Tendulkar choosing to bowl and his spin bowlers making the most of the conditions to limit a formidable South Africa Masters lineup to a pitiful 85 in less than 14 overs, the rivalries were reignited and the fervor remained alive as Saturday’s play got underway.

Even as South Africa Masters captain Kallis decided to open the bowling with his spinners, the stadium was packed with spectators eagerly awaiting the arrival of the God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, who would lead India’s run-chase of 86. The audience was silenced when off-spinner Thandi Tshabalala dismissed the master blaster with a fairly straightforward caught and bowled opportunity, proving that the move was successful.

Ambati Rayudu, another opener, led the chase when Tendulkar left, accompanied by Irfan Pathan (12), who was moved up the order to challenge the spinners. After a few well-timed boundaries from Pathan, the tactic appeared to be working until Eddie Leie tried to hoick him off leg-spinner, forcing him to take the long way back to the dressing room.

With India struggling at 27/2 during the powerplay, Pawan Negi was promoted to No. 4. He displayed his batting skills with a couple of boundaries and a six, joining Rayudu for an undefeated 62-run partnership that sent India over the finish line with nine overs remaining. On a 41 off 34 balls, Rayudu stayed undefeated, with the right-hander hitting the fence seven times.

In his opening encounter of the competition, Rahul Sharma, a wrist spinner, was used as early as the third over of the required powerplay to stop the South African opening duo of Hashim Amla and Henry Davids from giving the visitors a blazing 35-run lead.

After warming up with a respectable first over, Rahul put a stop to the scoring and revealed the South Africans’ weakness against good spin by taking the wickets of Amla (9), Kallis, and Jacques Rudolph off the first three deliveries of his second over.

Rahul Sharma got a lot of help from the other end, as left-arm spinner Pawan Negi trapped Farhaan Behardien before dismissing Davids,

The only South African batsman to put up any opposition. Davids led the team with a 28-ball 38, which was supported by four boundaries and a six.

South Africa Masters needed some middle-field stability after being reduced to 63/5, but India Masters captain Tendulkar cleverly took advantage of the spin-friendly conditions by tossing the ball to Yuvraj Singh, who responded to the confidence placed in him by taking the wickets of Vernon Philander and Garnett Kruger for golden ducks off consecutive balls, further undermining the visitors.

By dismissing a well-set Dane Vilas for his third wicket of the match, Yuvraj reminded the South Africans of his masterful spin-bowling technique. The wicketkeeper-batter was trying for another glory shot when he was killed. He had hit a boundary off the previous delivery. The tourists’ only other double-digit score on Saturday was Vilas’ 21 from 15 balls.

Then, in his final over of the day, seam-bowling all-rounder Stuart Binny claimed the wickets of Eddie Leie and Makhaya Ntini to complete the formalities.