Will the 2025 IPL Get Tristan Stubbs Back on Track?

Tristan Stubbs carries himself like a wandering albatross. Not in appearance, of course—albatrosses don’t have his radiant smile, his lively eyes, his unkempt hair, or his undeniable passion for cricket. Nor do they sport his scruffy, almost apologetic beard.

“He’s done a lot of things right on this tour—so many things,” Tony de Zorzi remarked in an episode of Proteas Tour Diary, recorded during South Africa’s Test series in Bangladesh last October. “That beard isn’t one of them.”

It was a beard that seemed almost out of place—hesitant and subdued on a cricketer whose every action on and around the field was anything but. A wicket falls, and Stubbs celebrates like the bowler. A teammate scores a century, and he’s leaping with joy in the dressing room or on the boundary. Need someone to dash up 48 steps at Centurion to fetch a wicketkeeper’s helmet? Stubbs is your man. Rain delay at Centurion? He’s outside signing autographs. Fielding near The Oaks at Newlands, where kids wave hats and mini cricket bats? Stubbs turns, signing as many as he can between deliveries.

Stubbs embraces every aspect of the game, from playing to performing. His athleticism is a spectacle—diving, sliding, and throwing with relentless commitment, treating every saved run as though it were the most crucial in cricket’s long history. His physical attributes—long wingspan, effortless power, towering height—only add to the impression of a player built for greatness.

His focus remains on international cricket, SA20, and the IPL. Unlike many modern players who chase T20 contracts worldwide, Stubbs is deliberate in his commitments.

“When I commit to a team fully, I play my best cricket,” he told Cricinfo. “I don’t want to spread myself too thin and give half-hearted efforts; I’d rather be part of fewer teams and give everything I have.”

Financially, he could easily play in multiple leagues, but he chooses not to. “I’m fortunate that my SA20 and IPL contracts are financially strong enough to give me flexibility. Some players need to play multiple leagues to earn extra income.”

So, does he view money as merely a means to an end?

“I was chatting with my mate the other day,” he said. “He said he just wants a house with a roof and a garden. I told him I’m no different. I keep things simple.”

Yet, simplicity doesn’t define Stubbs. Behind his lively eyes lies a sharp mind. He understands the mental demands of cricket.

“In Tests, you need to be mentally disciplined. In T20s, it’s the complete opposite—you have to take risks. After a Test, I need two or three days to settle down. Physically, I’m fine, but mentally, I’m exhausted.”

Does he struggle to sleep during a Test series?

“I do. Even after the Test ends, you’re still thinking about it.”

Stubbs lives in Gqeberha, and when South Africa plays at St George’s Park, he stays at home with his two housemates. “I get back from the match, we chat for a bit, but by nine, I shut the door. That’s it. I’m done.”

Originally from Johannesburg, he moved with his family to Knysna in 2007 or 2008—exchanging the chaotic hustle of South Africa’s largest city for the serene beauty of the Garden Route. Yet, he never lost his connection to home.

“It’s great going back. When I’m home, I don’t think about cricket at all.”

Even as one of Knysna’s most recognizable faces alongside Quinton de Kock?

“There are pros and cons, but people in Knysna are friendly. Families come up with their kids asking for pictures. I remember what that felt like as a kid, so I always try to be kind.”

That understanding of what it means to be a fan, and to be young, is central to Stubbs. When asked bigger-picture questions about his career, he often pauses, caught between surprise and unease, before replying: “I’m 24!” He’s too young to think about life after cricket, but old enough to remember what it’s like to be a kid in the stands.

In December 2023, we spoke at St George’s Park—the day before South Africa’s second Test against Sri Lanka. This is his home ground, a venue steeped in character. Unlike some soulless modern stadiums, St George’s Park feels alive, with its weathered stands, rambling corridors, and famously boisterous brass band.

“We used to sit in that corner over there,” he said, pointing towards the southern boundary. “I’d go with a mate, and we’d watch cricket—mostly the Warriors, but also South Africa.”

Stubbs made his first-class debut here in March 2020 for Eastern Province against Western Province. He scored five runs and a single, dropped a catch, and his team lost within two days by an innings and 23 runs. But three years later, in November 2023, he scored a match-winning 130 against Gauteng, smashing an attack that included Wiaan Mulder, Kwena Maphaka, and Bjorn Fortuin.

For Stubbs, St George’s Park isn’t just a ground—it’s a community. “Playing here is more exciting than anywhere else because I was always in the crowd. Now, my friends are watching me, and my family often drives from Knysna. It means more. I love playing here.”

In 2014, Stubbs moved to Gqeberha to attend Grey High School, where the cricket ground is named after Graeme Pollock and the rugby field after Siya Kolisi. While Gqeberha’s population is nearly 1.3 million—almost 18 times larger than Knysna—Stubbs still considers it a small town.

“Would I move somewhere else? No. I’m a small-town guy. Big cities are too hectic for me,” he said with a look that suggested this was obvious. “I’ll never not play for the Warriors.”

Mumbai, however, is not a small town. With 22 million people, it dwarfs Gqeberha as much as Gqeberha dwarfs Knysna. Yet, Stubbs made his IPL debut there in 2022. In two seasons with Mumbai Indians, he played just four matches and never scored more than 20. But his move to Delhi in 2023 changed everything. In 13 innings, he smashed four half-centuries at a strike rate of 190.90—one of the best in the tournament. Among overseas players, only seven scored more than his 378 runs, and only Rishabh Pant scored more for Delhi Capitals.

If Mumbai was a shock, how did Delhi feel for a small-town player?

“My first year in Mumbai was tough,” he admitted. “The hardest part was being surrounded by cricket 24/7. I’ve become very good at escaping cricket—I surf, I golf. But in India, you go from the ground to the hotel, and every TV channel has cricket on. Even in the hotel lobby, people want pictures. It was a big adjustment.”

Clearly, he adapted. Now, he’s ready to give his all for Delhi again in 2025.

Since our interview, Stubbs’ form has wavered, his highest score in 19 innings being just 47. But if challenging fate can turn things around, why not? The IPL has revived careers before—perhaps it will do the same for Stubbs.