The highly anticipated International Masters League (IML) is ready to take the world of cricket by storm, featuring legendary players from six cricketing powerhouses: India, Sri Lanka, Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies. This T20 franchise tournament, set to run from November 17 to December 8, will bring together iconic cricket captains, with India’s Sachin Tendulkar leading the charge for his nation. The action-packed event will see 18 thrilling matches unfold across multiple venues in India, blending nostalgia with high-energy cricket.

The tournament will kick off on November 17 at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai with an exciting fixture between India and Sri Lanka, rekindling the legendary rivalry between Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara. This will be followed by a second match featuring Australia, led by Shane Watson, against Jacques Kallis’ South Africa. Other thrilling fixtures will include West Indies, captained by Brian Lara, taking on Eoin Morgan's England, ensuring fans are in for a treat of world-class cricket from their favorite legends.

Captains ready to lead their teams

Iconic cricket stars will lead their respective teams in the IML, bringing their unparalleled experience and competitive spirit to the T20 format. Captains include Sachin Tendulkar (India), Brian Lara (West Indies), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Shane Watson (Australia), Eoin Morgan (England), and Jacques Kallis (South Africa). With the tournament spread across key Indian cities, cricket lovers can expect exhilarating action as these legends reignite their historic rivalries on the field.

India's cricket legend and IML Ambassador, Sachin Tendulkar, shared his enthusiasm about the upcoming league: “I am excited to lead and represent India Masters in the IML. The action on the field will undoubtedly be competitive and exciting. All the players are thrilled to be part of this league, and it's a great opportunity to inspire the next generation while celebrating the sport we love.”

Brian Lara, captain of the West Indies team, added, “It’s going to be amazing to step back onto the field with such a talented group of players. The format is fast and exciting—exactly what the fans want.”

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Venues and schedule set for IML action

The IML matches will take place in three venues across India, beginning at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, where four matches will be held. The action then moves to Lucknow’s Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee (BRSABV) Ekana Cricket Stadium on November 21, with India taking on South Africa. Six matches will be played in Lucknow before the league shifts to Raipur, which will host eight matches, including the semi-finals and the grand finale on December 8.

League Commissioner Sunil Gavaskar stated, “It’s a wonderful opportunity for these stalwarts to showcase their skills and prove that they are still at the top of their game. Fans can expect exciting contests that will keep them on the edge of their seats.”

The league will crown its first-ever champion at the final in Raipur, where the best teams will battle for glory. The event promises to be a memorable celebration of cricket, with fans reliving iconic moments and enjoying top-class competition from their favorite legends.

During the tournament, fans can expect a balanced format with innings breaks providing moments to recap the action, analyze key performances, and gear up for the thrilling second half. With cricket icons back in action, the excitement will be palpable both on the field and in the stands.

Former England cricket captain Eoin Morgan has dismissed reports suggesting he could replace Matthew Mott as the next white-ball coach. On July 23, Morgan addressed the speculation, stating that the news was as surprising to him as anyone else. England’s recent struggles in major tournaments have increased pressure on current coach Matthew Mott, who oversaw a disappointing campaign in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India and a semi-final exit at the hands of India in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Morgan dismisses speculation

Rumors in the British media suggested that Mott might be replaced, with England allegedly considering potential candidates. Eoin Morgan’s name was among those linked to the role. However, Morgan, speaking to Sky Sports while commentating for The Hundred, dismissed these reports. He emphasized that the news of his potential coaching role was new to him, confirming that he was not currently pursuing the position.

Eoin Morgan said, “This news is actually news to me.”

“It’s obviously not nice when a coach comes under fire and there is a lot of speculation about his future, but only time will tell what will happen.”

Focus on family and commentary

Morgan expressed that while he is interested in coaching the team in the future, now is not the right time. With a young family, Morgan prioritized spending time with them, highlighting the importance of his family commitments. Additionally, Morgan shared that he is enjoying his current role in commentary, which allows him to stay connected to the sport without the demands of coaching.

“I’ve been asked a lot [in the media] over the past couple of months about the role, and if I would take it on,” Morgan said. “My answer has simply been that the timing for everything in my life at the moment is not right. Yes, I want to coach down the line. But I have a young family, and I spend a lot more time at home and watching cricket doing this [commentary]. I’m absolutely loving what I’m doing,” said Morgan.

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Meanwhile, Rob Key, England’s managing director, announced that a review of the team’s performance during the T20 World Cup would begin soon. This review adds further pressure on Mott and England’s captain, Jos Buttler, who is recovering from a calf injury. As England navigates these challenges, the cricket community will be closely watching for any changes in leadership and strategy.

In a surprising turn of events in IPL 2024, there has been a change in captaincy mid-season. Such changes are not uncommon in the IPL, highlighting how crucial leadership is in the intense atmosphere of the tournament. These things have already happened in history.

Here are the name captains who stepped down in the middle of an IPL season;

2021: David Warner – Kane Williamson

David Warner was a standout performer during his time with the Hyderabad-based franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). As the captain, he clinched three orange caps and led SRH to victory in the IPL 2016, scoring a remarkable 848 runs. Warner’s dedication earned him the title of a true servant of the Orange Army.

However, in IPL 2021, SRH’s performance fell below expectations, with only one win in their first seven matches. This led to tensions between Warner and the SRH management, resulting in Kane Williamson being appointed as the new captain.

Despite the change in leadership, SRH’s fortunes didn’t improve, and they finished at the bottom of the table by the end of the season. Despite not being retained by SRH for the 2022 IPL season, Warner continued to show his support for the franchise from the stands, demonstrating his deep affection for the team. He was subsequently bought by Delhi Capitals for the 2022 IPL season.

2020: Dinesh Karthik – Eoin Morgan

Dinesh Karthik, known as one of the most successful wicketkeeper-batters in IPL history, joined Kolkata Knight Riders during the 2018 mega auction. With KKR in need of a captain, they turned to Karthik’s experience and leadership. He led the team from 2018 to 2020.

In the middle of IPL 2020, although KKR had won four of their first seven games, Karthik’s performance with the bat was lacking. Consequently, he chose to step down as captain. With Eoin Morgan, a World Cup-winning captain, in their squad, KKR appointed him as the new captain.

During IPL 2020, KKR’s performance was neither exceptional nor poor, finishing in fifth place with seven wins in 14 league matches. However, Morgan’s captaincy made a significant impact in the following season. Despite a slow start, KKR reached the finals, ultimately losing to Chennai Super Kings.

2018: Gautam Gambhir – Shreyas Iyer

Gautam Gambhir, KKR’s most successful captain with two trophies, decided to end his IPL journey with Delhi Daredevils ( then Delhi Capitals) before the 2018 IPL mega auction. As soon as he rejoined Delhi, he was appointed captain, which was a big boost for the team. However, despite Gambhir’s experience, Delhi struggled at the start, winning only one game out of their first six.

Consequently, Gambhir stepped down as captain. Shreyas Iyer, a young Indian batsman, took over the reins mid-season and led the team decently. Under Iyer’s captaincy, Delhi won four out of their next eight games, but couldn’t make it to the playoffs. Iyer continued as captain for two more seasons until he got injured before IPL 2021, leading to Rishabh Pant being named the new captain. In IPL 2022, Iyer was bought by KKR in the mega auction and appointed as their new skipper.

2013: Ricky Ponting – Rohit Sharma

In the 2013 IPL season, Ricky Ponting began as the captain of Mumbai Indians (MI). However, the team faced difficulties, losing four of their first five games. Seeing the struggle, Ponting chose to step down as captain, and MI appointed Rohit Sharma as the new skipper.

Rohit’s leadership brought a significant change to the team’s performance, ultimately leading them to clinch the trophy. This season also marked the last IPL for Sachin Tendulkar, and MI dedicated their win to the cricket legend. Rohit’s captaincy marked the start of a remarkable journey for MI. Under his leadership, they went on to win four more IPL titles, making Rohit the most successful captain in IPL history.

2012: Daniel Vettori – Virat Kohli

Despite starting each IPL season as favorites, the Royal Challengers Bangalore have yet to secure a title in their 14 seasons of participation. Despite reaching the final three times, including in 2011 under the leadership of Daniel Vettori, they have been unable to clinch the trophy. In the following season, RCB struggled, winning only two of their first five games.

In a bold move, young Indian batsman Virat Kohli was appointed captain midway through the season, despite still proving himself on the international stage. Though the team had mixed results under his leadership, finishing fifth on the points table, Kohli was subsequently appointed full-time captain in 2013. Over the next eight years, his captaincy had its ups and downs. The team’s breakthrough came in 2016, when they reached the IPL final for the third time.

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2009: Kevin Pietersen – Anil Kumble

In 2008, Rahul Dravid led the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL. But after just one season, he decided to step down as captain. RCB then bought Kevin Pietersen for INR 1.55 million before the 2009 IPL season and made him captain right away. However, things didn’t go well for RCB under Pietersen’s leadership, losing four out of the first five games.

The team owner, Vijay Mallya, became impatient and replaced Pietersen as captain. Anil Kumble, the Indian leg-spinning expert, took over as captain. Under his leadership, RCB performed exceptionally, winning eight out of the next 10 matches and making it to the finals. Unfortunately, they lost to the Deccan Chargers in the final match.

Former India skipper and current BCCI president Sourav Ganguly will lead India Maharajas in an exhibition match against a World Giants team, which will be driven by Former England captain Eoin Morgan, on September 16.

The game, set to be held at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, is part of Legends League Cricket (LLC), a private tournament organised by Absolute Legends Sports. It is a curtain-raiser for the league’s second release, which also celebrates India’s 75th year of Independence.

“This is a proud moment for us that we are celebrating the 75th year of our independence, as a proud Indian, it gives me immense satisfaction to share that we have decided to dedicate this year’s league to the 75th year of Independence celebration.”

Ravi Shastri, the LLC commissioner, said in a statement

Apart from Ganguly, the match is set to feature Former India players like Virender Sehwag, Mohammad Kaif, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan and Parthiv Patel – every one of whom played under Ganguly’s captaincy – among others.

The Maharajas squad also includes S Sreesanth, the Former India quick bowler who reported his retirement from domestic cricket earlier this year after making a brief return to top-flight cricket following the lifting of his seven-year ban relating to the IPL spot-fixing case.

Aside from Morgan, a World Cup winner with England in 2019, the Giants also have Former South Africa stars Jacques Kallis, Jonty Rhodes, Dale Steyn and Herschelle Gibbs in their positions. Sanath Jayasuriya and Muthiah Muralidaran make up the Sri Lankan portrayal, while Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson are the two Australians in the 17-member squad.

The first season of the league was held in January this year in Oman, with three teams – Maharajas, Giants and Asia Lions- taking part. Giants won the competition following a high-scoring final against Lions.

The second season will feature four teams, and 15 matches altogether.

India Maharajas: Sourav Ganguly (capt), Virender Sehwag, Mohammad Kaif, Yusuf Pathan, S Badrinath, Irfan Pathan, Parthiv Patel (wk), Stuart Binny, Sreesanth, Harbhajan Singh, Naman Ojha (wk), Ashok Dinda, Pragyan Ojha, Ajay Jadeja, RP Singh, Joginder Sharma, Reetinder Singh Sodhi

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World Giants: Eoin Morgan (capt), Lendl Simmons, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Sanath Jayasuriya, Matt Prior (wk), Nathan McCullum, Jonty Rhodes, Muthiah Muralidaran, Dale Steyn, Hamilton Masakadza, Mashrafe Mortaza, Asghar Afghan, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Kevin O’Brien, Denesh Ramdin (wk)

Eoin Morgan confirms his decision to retire from International Cricket. He ends a reign of seven and a half years as England’s skipper in the white ball formats. Taking over after a tough tenure by Alastair Cook and a disastrous 2015 World Cup, Eoin Morgan helped transform England’s Cricket Team.

He finishes as England’s most successful White Ball captain and leading run scorer in both formats. Eoin Morgan’s decision is an expected one given his scenario over the last two years.

As a batter, Eoin Morgan struggled with one fifty in the last two years. His fitness has been another issue. With Morgan struggling to play consecutive games, his decision to retire came in faster.

Despite the last two years though, Eoin Morgan’s legacy has been one to treasure. He started his career with Ireland but moved to England after 2007, and managed to play for them in the 2011 World Cup. After joining England he became a regular in the white ball formats.

He had a stint with the test side as well but that journey didn’t go well prompting him to step away from Test Cricket. As a captain Morgan took England to the 2016 T20 World Cup Finals.

With the ODI side, Eoin Morgan emphasized aggression. His team was full of hitters and he possessed one of the deepest batting lineups in ODI cricket. Under his captaincy 300+ totals became a norm as he led England to a World Cup win.

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His decision to move on will be a tough one for England. He is one of the best thinkers in the game and was one of England’s best middle-order batters. In his place, Jos Buttler is likely to step up as full time skipper. He had led England in the past when Morgan was injured and has experience leading the national side.

While Eoin Morgan steps down, his legacy is likely to continue for long. He will still turn up in domestic Cricket and is likely to play a large part in Franchise cricket going forward.