Why Tristan Stubbs Isn’t Playing Today’s 3rd Match of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Against Afghanistan?

South Africa has made some surprising selections for their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match against Afghanistan, and one of the biggest talking points is the absence of Tristan Stubbs from the playing XI.

Stubbs, a dynamic middle-order batter and occasional wicketkeeper, has been a promising name in South Africa’s white-ball setup. Given his ability to accelerate in the death overs and provide balance to the team, his exclusion from today’s match has raised questions.

So why is Tristan Stubbs not playing today? Is it a tactical decision, a form concern, or a squad rotation strategy? Let’s break it down.

Possible Reasons for Tristan Stubbs’ Absence

1. Tactical Decision Based on Match Conditions

South Africa has opted for a specific game plan against Afghanistan, which likely influenced their decision to leave out Stubbs:

Strengthening the bowling attack – Instead of Stubbs, South Africa included an extra bowling option to counter Afghanistan’s power-hitters.

Pitch conditions favoring seamers – With the Karachi pitch offering assistance to fast bowlers, South Africa may have prioritized a pace-heavy lineup.

2. Team Combination & Middle-Order Balance

South Africa’s playing XI for today’s match features:

Batters: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller

All-rounders: Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen

Bowlers: Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

With experienced batters like Markram, van der Dussen, and Miller occupying the middle order, South Africa might have felt Stubbs wasn’t necessary for this game.

3. Rotation Policy & Workload Management

Since this is South Africa’s first match in the tournament, the team management could be following a planned rotation strategy:

Resting Stubbs for future matches to keep him fresh.

Testing other squad members before facing tougher opposition like Australia and England.

4. Performance & Competition for Spots

Although Stubbs has been impressive in T20s, his ODI numbers haven’t been as dominant:

ODI Matches: 6

Batting Average: 24.5

Strike Rate: 98.2

With limited opportunities to prove himself in ODIs, Stubbs faces tough competition from established players like Markram and Miller, who have been preferred for the middle-order roles today.

How Will South Africa Cope Without Tristan Stubbs?

1. Increased Responsibility on Other Finishers

With Stubbs missing, the responsibility to accelerate in the final overs will fall on:

David Miller – South Africa’s most experienced finisher

Aiden Markram – Expected to provide stability and attack when needed

2. Ryan Rickelton Gets the Wicketkeeping Role

Instead of Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton has taken over wicketkeeping duties, which might indicate South Africa’s preference for a full-time keeper over a part-time option.

3. A More Bowling-Heavy Approach

By leaving out Stubbs, South Africa has gone for a more balanced bowling lineup to counter Afghanistan’s aggressive batting.

Will Tristan Stubbs Return in the Next Match?

It’s highly likely that Stubbs will be back in South Africa’s lineup for the upcoming matches, especially against teams where an aggressive middle-order batter is crucial.

If today’s batting lineup struggles, Stubbs could return in the next game.

If South Africa comfortably wins today, the management may continue with this combination.

Final Thoughts – Was This the Right Call?

Tristan Stubbs is a talented young batter, but South Africa’s decision to bench him today seems to be based on match conditions and team balance. If their batting unit delivers and their strategy works, this decision will be justified. However, if they struggle to score runs in the middle and death overs, questions will be raised about whether Stubbs should have played.

Do you think South Africa made the right decision by leaving out Tristan Stubbs today? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

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