NEW DELHI: Former South African spinner Paul Adams has commended the Delhi Capitals for their strategic decision to retain South African batsman Tristan Stubbs for the IPL 2025 season.
Amid significant roster changes, including the release of ex-captain Rishabh Pant, Stubbs's retention depicts the franchise's confidence in his abilities.
"It was a calculated move from Delhi Capitals, indeed Stubbs is one of the few players who is young and will be in the long run for the franchise and he has proven his credentials. He has been batting beautifully not only in the limited format but also in the Test, we all saw what classy innings he played against Bangladesh, so having a young hard-hitting batter and a terrific fielder in your side will always benefit the franchise. He is the future of Delhi Capitals," Adams told IANS.
The 22-year-old has impressed in previous seasons with his aggressive batting and efficient fielding, marking three half-centuries in his IPL career.
For the 2025 season, alongside Stubbs, Delhi Capitals have also retained Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and uncapped player Abishek Porel, aiming to solidify their core team. They will be looking to fill the remaining slots in the squad during the upcoming mega IPL auction on November 24 and 25.
"With Axar, Kuldeep and Porel other in the retention list, DC actually has tried to retain their core strength, but with Rishabh going out it will be interesting to see who will lead the team," he added.
Stubbs, who made his IPL debut in 2022, has scored 405 runs in 18 matches at an average of 36.82, including three fifties. Acquired for Rs 50 lakh in the 2024 IPL Auction, his performance showcases his potential as a long-term asset for the team.
Adams also heaped praise on the emergence of young talent like Gerald Coetzee and praised the SA20 tournament for its positive impact on South African cricket, attributing part of its success to the involvement of IPL franchises.
"Gerald Coetzee’s been around here, played from the under-19s system all the way through, always able to contribute as well with the bat. And his innings the other night was absolutely amazing. Coming in, taking that pressure immediately off Tristan Stubbs. So having a player like that down the order and also South Africa to be able to have the batting depth these days within the T20 setup is important," Adams added.
"It allows batters to continue to keep going hard. And also you've got to understand that the game's never finished. Gone are the days of that. You've got to make sure that you've got length in your batting and be able to have batters down the order that can clear the ropes. And we had to see what Gerald is capable of.”
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