Rishabh Pant. (Photo Source: Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
Ahead of the IML semi-final between Sri Lanka Masters and West Indies Masters, Denesh Ramdin shared their thoughts on the tournament, playing alongside legends, and their admiration for fellow cricketers.
Denesh Ramdin spoke on which players from the Sri Lanka Masters squad could pose a challenge, Ramdin said: “I think Sangakkara is the main guy—he’s batting really well. They have Thirimanne, they have Tharanga. These guys have been performing consistently throughout the tournament. And they have a decent bowling line-up as well for these conditions. They got the better of us in the prelim games, but when it’s a semi-final, it’s crunch time. It comes down to who can handle the pressure better on the day and make fewer mistakes.”
Speaking about the vibrant Indian crowds and the possibility of hosting an event like the International Masters League (IML) in the Caribbean, Ramdin shared:
“It would be fantastic in the Caribbean. We love cricket, and people seeing their role models and idols playing after their international careers would be amazing. Not just in Trinidad, but throughout the Caribbean—probably Barbados, Jamaica—the younger generation will see their idols and come out to support. Cricket is a big part of the Caribbean culture, and the excitement for such a tournament would be incredible.”
On the festival of Holi, Ramdin reflected on how the festival is celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago, drawing parallels with India. “It’s very similar to India. When you go to the Savannahs, you have the songs playing, you have the Holi powder, and you just go around sharing it with everyone, having a really good time.”
Ramdin also opened up on on the growth potential of the International Masters League (IML) and while Sharing his thoughts on how the IML can evolve. “IML is only going to get better in the future. This tournament has been excellent so far, and the level of competitiveness is at an international standard, with guys competing really hard. Players are coming out here to give their best, and it has made for some exciting cricket. We’ve seen names like Dwayne Smith, Lendl Simmons, Kumar Sangakkara, and Sachin himself performing well. The effort the players put in during practice and then execute in the game is amazing to see—the pride and passion are still very much alive.”
When asked about the best wicketkeepers in world cricket at present, he said: “Obviously, Rishabh Pant is one—he’s unique in the way he bats and scores runs. There’s a young guy from Australia, Josh Inglis—he did well in the Champions Trophy. Tom Hinton is up there as well. There are many young keepers coming through.
“Back in the day, wicketkeepers were primarily just keepers, but now cricket has evolved. The role of the keeper-batsman has expanded, starting with players like Adam Gilchrist, who opened the batting and excelled. Others like Quinton de Kock, Brendon McCullum, and of course, the exceptional Mahendra Singh Dhoni, have been fantastic in shaping the modern wicketkeeper’s role.”
Ramdin also shared his thoughts on how Sunil Narine might perform in the upcoming IPL season: “Obviously, Narine was the MVP last year, and his team won the championship. He’ll have a lot of confidence going into the new season, but every season brings a new atmosphere and new challenges, with different players in the team. I have no doubt that Sunil, though a man of few words, expresses himself fully through his performances with both the ball and the bat.”
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