Vintage Sachin wows fans as India Masters clinch inaugural IML title
Raipur, Mar 16 (PTI): Sachin Tendulkar rolled back the years with a scintillating knock, while Ambati Rayudu slammed a stylish fifty as India Masters dished out an allround show to beat West Indies Masters by six wickets and win the inaugural International Masters League, here on Sunday.
The Indian bowlers, led by Vinay Kumar (3-0-26-3) and Shahbaz Nadeem (4-1-12-2), had earlier set the tone, restricting West Indies Masters to a modest 148/7 after Brian Lara opted to bat.
In response, Tendulkar treated fans to a glimpse of his golden days, unleashing his signature strokes in his brief but memorable stay of 25 runs from 18 balls (2x4, 1x6).
Ambati Rayudu (74 in 50 balls; 9x4, 3x6), on the other end, held on to anchor the chase before Yuvraj Singh (13 not out) and Stuart Binny (15 not out) sealed the chase in 17.1 overs.
Such a Nostalgia
Opening the innings, Tendulkar was at his elegant best, executing a picture-perfect late cut to Jerome Taylor for four before following it up with an audacious upper-cut six over third man.
His copybook drive, flick, and ramp shot transported fans back to his prime.
He raced to 23 off just 14 balls, thrilling the crowd with his effortless strokeplay.
However, his sparkling innings was cut short when he mistimed a pull off Tino Best, finding Chadwick Walton at fine-leg.
By then, he had put India Masters in complete control, forging a 67-run opening stand in just 7.5 overs.
Rayudu anchored the chase with a composed knock, ensuring there were no hiccups.
He too showcased his attacking prowess, smashing a flat six off Taylor, while Yuvraj Singh played a fluent hand to guide India Masters home comfortably.
Vinay, Nadeem lead bowling charge
In a Sachin vs Lara face off, the West Indies Masters looked set for a 180-plus total as Dwayne Smith (45 off 35 balls, 6x4, 2x6) took charge, while Lara played second fiddle opening the innings.
The duo were in top gear at 34 from 22 balls before Vinay Kumar halted Lara's innings.
But they reached 52/1 in the powerplay, with Smith tearing into Negi for 15 runs in an over.
However, the left-arm spinner Nadeem struck at the right time, castling Smith with a delivery that skidded on as he played for the turn.
Vinay Kumar was the standout performer, dismissing Lara (6) early and returning at the death to claim the prized wicket of their top-scorer Lendl Simmons (57 off 41 balls, 5x4, 1x6).
His precision and variation ensured West Indies Masters struggled in the final overs, managing just 35 runs while losing two wickets.
Negi (1/30 in 3 overs) and Stuart Binny (1/11 in 2 overs) also played supporting roles, restricting the opposition to a below-par total.
Despite Simmons’ fighting fifty and a 61-run stand with Denesh Ramdin (12 not out), West Indies Masters lacked the finishing touch, setting the stage for Sachin’s nostalgic masterclass and India Masters’ emphatic title triumph.
Brief Scores:
West Indies Masters 148/7; 20 overs (Lendl Simmons 57, Dwayne Smith 45; Vinay Kumar 3/26, Shahbaz Nadeem 2/12).
India Masters 149/4; 17.1 overs (Ambati Rayudu 74, Sachin Tendulkar 25).
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4% quota for Muslim contractors: BJP to challenge K'taka's 'unconstitutional move' in court
New Delhi/Bengaluru, Mar 17 (PTI): The BJP on Monday termed the Karnataka government’s proposal to provide four per cent reservation to Muslims in government contracts an "unconstitutional misadventure" and said it will oppose the move at all levels, including challenging it in court, until it is rolled back.
The ruling Congress in Karnataka and the BJP hit out at each other over the issue in the Assembly.
Earlier on Friday, the Cabinet approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act, reserving four per cent of contracts for Muslims in civil works valued up to Rs two crore and goods/services contracts up to Rs one crore.
"The BJP firmly opposes the proposed unconstitutional move and demands that the Siddaramaiah government immediately roll it back," BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, who represents the Bangalore South Lok Sabha seat, told a press conference at the party headquarters in New Delhi.
He alleged that the Siddaramaiah-led government’s decision was a "calculated move" to appease Muslims, "at the direction and patronage of the Congress top leadership, particularly Rahul Gandhi."
"This patently unconstitutional and prima facie illegal act will be challenged in court. The BJP will fight against the move both inside the Assembly and on the streets. We will also raise the issue in Parliament and protest outside it," Surya said.
The BJP MP said that the Karnataka government’s move is a threat to national integrity, unity, and sovereignty.
"We will fight and oppose this in the courtroom. We will take the fight to the people of Karnataka. Until this unconstitutional move is rolled back, the BJP’s fight will continue," he added.
Meanwhile, in the Karnataka Assembly, the ruling Congress and the BJP once again sparred on Monday over the budgetary provision of four per cent reservation for Muslims in government contracts.
The Congress rejected the BJP’s allegation that religion-based reservation is "against constitutional provisions."
Defending the reservation, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said that Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and Buddhists are citizens of this country.
"We have concerns for minorities and backward communities. When the BJP says it wants to take everyone along, let it appoint Christian and Muslim ministers. Only then does BJP state president B Y Vijayendra have the right to speak about equality. Let him read the state anthem written by Kuvempu—then he will understand what makes Karnataka a peaceful garden," Shivakumar told reporters.
Hitting back at Shivakumar, Vijayendra said that it was the BJP government, not the Congress, that had appointed Dr A P J Abdul Kalam as the President of India.
"We appointed Najma Heptulla, Justice Abdul Nazeer, and Arif Mohammed Khan as governors. Musician Ustad Bismillah Khan was bestowed with the Bharat Ratna by the BJP government," Vijayendra told reporters.
According to him, Congress's appeasement politics is not new.
He questioned the Congress party’s concern for Dalits, asking where it was when its MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy’s house was "torched by Muslim hooligans".
The Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka, claimed that several Supreme Court judgments have stated that there is no provision in the Constitution for religion-based reservations.
"Yet, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wore a ‘topi’ (skull cap), organised Tipu Jayanti, and introduced Shaadi Bhagya (launched in 2013, it provides financial assistance to economically backward minority women). He gave grants to Muslims beyond what they had asked for. Now, by offering four per cent reservation in contracts to Muslims, the Congress government has made an assault on Hindus," he alleged.
Ashoka argued that there had never been a religion-based contract system in Karnataka, but the government had introduced one, which could lead to conflicts between communities.
In the Karnataka Legislative Council, Leader of the Opposition, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy raised the issue.
He said that religion-based reservation is "not allowed under the Constitution."
"You have granted four per cent reservation to Muslims in contracts. We oppose religion-based reservations. I urge the government through you not to implement it," he stated.
Countering him, Congress MLA B K Hariprasad asserted that the reservation aligns with constitutional provisions.
