Coming in at a pressure point—Delhi at 58/4—Stubbs remained composed, allowing himself time to settle while Rahul controlled the chase with his unbeaten 93. The pair stitched an unbroken 111-run stand, guiding DC to victory with 13 balls to spare.
“It was really satisfying. Came in during a bit of a tricky situation but the run rate never got out of hand. Honestly, I didn’t have to do much with the way KL batted,” Stubbs said during the post-match presentation.
Stubbs revealed that while the DLS par score was briefly discussed during a brief rain delay, it was never a serious concern.
“We had so much extra time. I never really thought about it—it was just about giving myself time and kicking on,” he added.
The South African batter recalled a similar scenario in last year’s chase at the same venue, where early wickets cost them the match. This time, the approach was different—built around patience, intent, and clear communication.
“Last year, we kept losing wickets after being four down. This time it was just about holding on, and I saw what Tim [David] did at the end. Sometimes, it’s just about one big over.”
Stubbs also emphasized the mental aspect of finishing games and the importance of adapting to various roles in the batting order.
“Every position is different, so you’ve got to tailor your approach. I actually enjoy batting later in the innings. It’s pressure, but also fun.”
Match Recap:
RCB posted 163/7 after early fireworks from Phil Salt (37) and a late burst from *Tim David (37)**. But DC’s bowling unit, especially Kuldeep Yadav (2/17) and Vipraj Nigam (2/18), pegged back the hosts effectively.
In the chase, KL Rahul’s masterclass and Stubbs’ composed 38 off 28* saw DC home, keeping their unbeaten streak alive and placing them second on the IPL 2025 points table with four wins from four matches.
