A key player for the Proteas across all three formats

Tristan Stubbs has matured and left the "crazy" phase behind, emerging as a key player for the Proteas across all three formats. His journey has been anything but smooth, starting from his teenage days when he was first spotted in the nets, to representing South Africa in a World Cup final.

Understandably, his “mind was going crazy” after his Proteas debut in 2022. Shortly afterwards, the hard-hitting batter became a multi-millionaire, fetching a record R9 million in the SA20 auction and securing a spot in the IPL. However, that hefty price tag seemed to burden the young player from Knysna in the Southern Cape. His performances in the debut SA20 season in 2023 fell short of expectations, and he struggled to find his rhythm for the Proteas as well.

Determined to recapture the joy that first drew him to the game, Stubbs refocused on his mindset. This shift paid off—he rediscovered his form in this year’s SA20 and played a crucial role in the IPL, excelling under pressure during the closing stages of innings with his powerful stroke play.

On this day in 2022, while chasing a daunting target of 234, Stubbs came to the crease with South Africa in trouble at 86/4. He battled like a warrior until the end, though his efforts weren’t enough to secure a win, with the team eventually falling short by 41 runs.