Too often in this Indian Premier League (IPL), Tristan Stubbs has had to come in to bat when Delhi Capitals has lost a spate of wickets. It has resulted in the South African having to rebuild rather than attack from the get-go, as indicated by a middling strike rate of 137.06 after six matches.

It prompted Venugopal Rao, Capitals’ Director of Cricket, to remark after their loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad that they could look to free up the 25-year-old by moving him to No. 3.

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“Being in the middle-order in general, you come into different situations all the time. You are sort of mentally prepared for that. I don’t really mind where I come in. If the team asks me to bat higher up the order, I will be more than happy to do it,” Stubbs said on Friday ahead of DC’s clash against Punjab Kings. “I have batted through my whole career from 3 to 6. It changes all the time. With (playing) Test cricket as well, it has allowed me to be able to try and change gears and do what I think is right out there.”

Stubbs doesn’t expect the surface for Saturday’s afternoon clash to be a batting featherbed. “From the T20 World Cup to now, we haven’t seen an absolute belter here. It will probably be really similar,” he stated, before adding partly in jest, “Hopefully it is really low, ragging and 120 plays 120. That will be great.”

PBKS, meanwhile, is a well-drilled outfit under Shreyas Iyer. Praising the skipper, Punjab’s spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule said: “Shreyas’ leadership qualities are special. The rapport he has with each player, he knows how to get the best out of everyone.”

Published on Apr 24, 2026