Sachin Tendulkar made a remarkable return to professional cricket, guiding India Masters to victory against West Indies Masters in the final, thereby securing the inaugural title of the International Masters League. Throughout the tournament, Tendulkar delighted his fans with performances reminiscent of his prime, scoring 34, 64, 42, and 25 runs. The India Masters showcased exceptional consistency, suffering only one defeat—against the Australia Masters—on their path to the championship. At the age of 50, Tendulkar ranked ninth among the season's top run-scorers, amassing a total of 181 runs and taking his supporters on a nostalgic journey with his classic and signature shots.

His repertoire included straight drives, pull shots, and the unforgettable uppercut, as Tendulkar mesmerized audiences one last time this year. His innings of 64 against Australia last week stood out as one of his best, as he skillfully navigated the Aussie bowlers. Once again, he dazzled against Australia in the semi-final before contributing a brisk 25 runs that set the stage for India's chase of 149 against the West Indies.

As always, Tendulkar drew a massive crowd, with nearly 50,000 fans in Raipur passionately chanting 'Sachin, Sachin' whenever he was on the field, whether batting, fielding, or captaining. The excitement was palpable; even his appearances on the big screen, while seated in the dugout, triggered enthusiastic reactions from the crowd. It is rare for a player who retired from professional cricket 12 years ago to still evoke such fervor. Few sights are as captivating as the beloved Master Blaster executing a stunning display of stroke play. However, on Sunday, the image of Tendulkar lifting the IML trophy ignited an extraordinary wave of warmth and joy among his fans.

Here are some of the reactions:

What Sachin Tendulkar said after winning the inaugural season of IML

This is quite comfortable around the neck. We were genuinely relaxed. Our intention was to go out and simply play our game. I reminded the team, "I understand it's the final, but we must continue to play the brand of cricket that has brought us here." I have consistently emphasized to the players that we succeed as a team and face defeat as one. While individual performances may shine, such as those from Nadeem and Rayudu, who were exceptional, Yuvi also played a crucial role in finishing the match. Stuart, Irfan, and Yusuf all contributed at various points. Dhawal and Vinay delivered outstanding performances in the final overs, Tendulkar remarked.

"I thoroughly enjoyed it. The response to the IML was positive, and the quality of cricket was impressive. The players were eager to challenge themselves. I experienced a few minor injuries, but that has always been part of the game. I still recall our initial practice session at DY Patil Stadium and envisioning ourselves lifting the trophy on the 16th."

The ongoing debate between Tendulkar and Kohli continues to generate discussion, yet the conclusion of the inaugural IML season has solidified one undeniable fact: Sachin Tendulkar remains an enduring symbol of emotion for India. Those who once watched in awe as Tendulkar created one masterpiece after another have now grown into adults, their respect for him only intensifying over time. While Kohli may surpass more of Tendulkar's records and potentially earn the title of the greatest batsman in the history of cricket, Tendulkar will always be regarded as the lasting standard.

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