The five-time Indian Premier League champions confirmed the development on May 5, stating Tymal Mills has sustained an ankle injury and wouldn’t be available for the rest of the season. Notably, MI haven’t brought in a like-for-like replacement for the Englishman, as they look to cover for their batting issues.
The left-arm pacer had also been out of favour from the first-choice XI since April 16 when he last turned up versus the Lucknow Super Giants. The 29-year-old had taken three wickets that day but went for 54 runs off his four overs. He played five games for MI this season, proving very expensive with the ball, taking his six wickets while going for 11.17 runs per over.
While the ankle injury has seen Mills’ departure from IPL 2022, ESPNcricinfo reported, “it’s understood the injury is a minor one, and he is expected to be fit for Sussex’s first T20 Blast game on May 26.”
Stubbs is rated as one of the brightest young talents to be emerging out of the South African scene. The right-hand middle-order batter, whom MI have picked at a base sum of INR 20 lakhs, becomes the second uncapped South African young player in their camp after Dewald Brevis.
The 21-year-old is being recognised by MI’s robust scouting team and ownership group after a series of fantastic performances in the recent domestic season. Playing for the Warriors in CSA T20 Challenge, he amassed his 293 runs at a strike-rate of 183.12 while averaging 48.83. His overall career T20 strike-rate stands at 157.14 after 17 matches with three half-centuries.
As a clear sign of his talent and promise, Stubbs was selected into the South African A squad for their tour of Zimbabwe after an impressive run at the domestic level. Stubbs has also played eight first-class and 11 List A games to his name.
Out of the playoffs race with just one win in their first nine games, Rohit Sharma’s men next play on May 6 against the Gujarat Titans at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
