South Africa’s emerging all-rounder, Tristan Stubbs, is still grappling with the gut-wrenching loss his team suffered against India in the T20 World Cup final on June 29. For the Proteas, the final at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, was meant to mark a historic achievement.
But instead, it prolonged their painful wait for an ICC trophy, sharply contrasting with India’s celebratory conclusion to a 13-year drought. Stubbs played a pivotal role in guiding South Africa to the final, consistently stepping up when his team needed him most. Batting in the middle order, he amassed 165 runs over nine matches, demonstrating his ability to perform under pressure.
He also looked dangerous in the final, scoring 31 runs off 21 balls in the pursuit of 177 runs. Unfortunately, he was dismissed by Axar Patel, his teammate from the IPL franchise Delhi Capitals.
“T20 WC Final result comes up when you don’t want it to. I’ve tried my best to forget, but it’s not easy. Someone the other night told us about this and you’re like, ‘you don’t have to tell us, if you feel bad for us’…Some things you don’t want to remember,” Stubbs shared with IOL, as reported by India Today.
The match itself was a rollercoaster of emotions for the Proteas. Needing just 26 runs from the last 24 balls with six wickets still in hand, South Africa seemed poised for victory.
Stubbs and his teammates felt that the long-awaited ICC title was finally within their reach. However, in a twist of fate, India’s Jasprit Bumrah delivered a masterclass in death bowling, supported admirably by Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya, which drastically changed the game’s trajectory.
In a dramatic turn, the South African batters struggled to handle the relentless pressure exerted by India’s bowlers, leading to a shocking 7-run defeat. The agonizing loss left the team in disbelief, and it’s clear that the sting of that missed opportunity continues to resonate.
South Africa Returns to Action vs. West Indies
The Proteas will return to T20I action for the first time since their World Cup final defeat on Friday, facing off against the West Indies in Trinidad. The entire T20I series will take place at this single venue. Following this series, the team will head to the United Arab Emirates next month to compete against Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series.
