Tristan Stubbs might not be a name you’ve heard before but he could soon be an IPL star. Mumbai Indians have roped in the young, talented South African wicketkeeper-batter as the replacement for the injured Tymal Mills for the remainder of IPL 2022.

Tristan Stubbs, a hard-hitting 21-year-old wicketkeeper batter, is the latest South African to fetch an IPL gig. The uncapped batter, who set the CSA T20 Challenge alight with some scintillating hitting, has only just stepped into franchise cricket, making his professional T20 debut just last year.

Who is Tristan Stubbs?

An Eastern Province player from South Africa who debuted in the 2019-20 domestic season in first-class cricket, Stubbs’ attractive stroke-making made him an instant hit in South African cricketing circles. He hit a 105 in just his second first-class game, but what caught attention immediately was his natural ball-striking skills. He made his T20 debut in 2021, playing for the Warriors franchise, and hasn’t looked back since. With a tall frame, Stubbs is quite a presence at the crease, and he can hit the ball a long way thanks to his rapid hand speed.

What has Tristan Stubbs done so far in his T20 career?

Stubbs has already caught the eye of the national selectors thanks to some outrageous numbers. In 17 T20 games, Stubbs has amassed over 500 runs at an average of 38.92 and a strike rate of 157.14. The young batter has hit a boundary every 5.6 deliveries in his short T20 career thus far, and it’s his finishing skills that probably caught the eye of Mumbai Indians.

Tristan Stubbs again for @WarriorsCrickEC today, 65 off 35, the kid’s on 🔥 throwing his name in Mpitsangs hat. #CSAT20Challenge #T20WCYear

— Ashwell Prince (@ashyp_5) February 14, 2022

According to Ask Cricinfo, among batters to face at least 100 balls in the final four overs of a T20 innings, Stubbs has the second-best career strike rate behind AB de Villiers at 221.29. In these four overs, Stubbs has hit 20 sixes in 108 balls and a further 14 fours.

In the CSA T20 Challenge in 2022, Stubbs finished as the second-highest run-scorer, making 293 runs in seven matches at an average of 48.83 and a strike rate of 183.12. Notably, he hit 23 sixes in the tournament, 10 more than the next best in the tournament.

He was rewarded with a place in the South Africa A squad for the unofficial matches against Zimbabwe in Harare and has already made an impact, making an unbeaten 39 off 37 balls in a tricky run chase in the first unofficial T20.

What experience does he have in the big leagues?

None. That’s right, Stubbs hasn’t played T20 cricket in any of the other professional T20 league, but his ball-striking was so extraordinary in the CSA T20 Challenge that he caught the eye of the IPL scouts.