IPL 2024: Tristan Stubbs lives up to the 'finisher's' tag as Delhi Capitals remain mathematically alive

Delhi Capitals (DC) might have found a worthwhile match-winner in Tristan Stubbs for next season’s Indian Premier League (IPL) already. The current season is not over yet, but for DC, who have now completed all their league stage matches, if there are two batters who have stood out, it’s Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk and South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs.

Stubbs, in particular, has nailed the game against spinners, striking at a rate of 180 against such bowlers in IPL 2024. He has nailed the death overs, too, something that was visible against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Tuesday as DC completed a 19-run win in Delhi to stay in the playoff race .

Also read | All-round Delhi Capitals decimate Lucknow Super Giants to clinch crucial win

More than anything, the 23-year-old has proven that he can be a game-changer, and is not merely just a back-up for Harry Brook, who withdrew from the IPL after his grandmother passed away.

“He looks very hungry and composed, also. He is a player for the next five years," DC assistant coach Pravin Amre said after the match.

In 2022, Stubbs was signed by Mumbai Indians as a replacement for pacer Tymal Mills. He played just two games that season but would get retained for the 2023 season. Even last year, his game time was limited to two matches where he scored 25 runs. For a team who acquired the wicketkeeper-batter for his base price of Rs 50 lakh at the IPL 2024 player auction in Dubai, it’s a huge bargain for Delhi Capitals.

Tristan Stubbs, the finisher

The youngster’s 25-ball 57 was somewhat reminiscent of his unbeaten 71 off 25 against Mumbai Indians (MI) earlier in the season. On both occasions, the right-handed batter walked out to bat in the 12th over, but unlike the MI game where he batted at No 4, Stubbs batted three-down for DC on Tuesday.

That was a game where the Cape Town-born cricketer started smashing boundaries right from the third ball. Tuesday, however, was a little bit different. Not in a major way, but just a little. He started his innings against LSG in a calm and composed manner, taking his time to reach seven off nine deliveries. When he had walked out to bat, DC were going at a run-rate of less than eight but it was in those five overs which turned around the team’s fortunes. From 111/3 in the 12th over when DC lost Abishek Porel (58), to getting to 208/4, Stubbs and Rishabh Pant (33) played their bit.

On the third ball of the 16th over, the Eastern Province cricketer heaved over long-on for six off Arshad Khan’s in the slot delivery. That was just the beginning of a riot that would follow from Stubbs, who would further hit Arshad for a couple of more boundaries in the same over, the second of which was an excellent reverse scoop past wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock and Mohsin Khan, who was fielding at short third man.

To bring up his half-century, Stubbs dispatched a slower ball from Naveen-ul-Haq over wide long off for a maximum. For a larger part of the DC innings, the Afghanistan pacer was at the receiving end of things, and Stubbs’ no holds barred approach against Naveen just did not help the latter’s case, who went for 51 runs from four overs while taking two wickets.

His maximum against Mohsin Khan in the18th over was not among the perfectly timed shot but it was still a powerful loft. Having said that, he hadn’t middled it from the bat but the end result was pleasing to see for DC and their fans.

From a relatively unhurried start to getting to his half-century off just 22 deliveries, the batter had done half the job for DC, helping them reach 208/4. In LSG’s reply, most of their batters, barring Nicholas Pooran and Arshad Khan, were clueless as Ishant Sharma (3/34) produced a fine showing with the ball. Ishant was supported by fellow Indian bowlers in Khaleel Ahmed, Axar Patel, Mukesh Kumar and Kuldeep Yadav, and although he was adjudged Player of the Match, it was the Proteas batter who showcased his brilliance and proven that he may not just be a one-season wonder.

Who knows, maybe there’s more to come from the former Mumbai Indians cricketer next season, but for the Capitals, it’s now about playing the waiting game now that they have completed all of their league matches .