Tristan Stubbs with Tendulkar signed bat [Source: X]Tristan Stubbs was the hero of Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 2026 final with the bat. The 25-year-old turned the game on its head against Pretoria Capitals, at a stage when everyone felt the match had slipped out of Sunrisers’ hands. However, while Stubbs’ innings stood out for its impact and brilliance, what later caught the attention of fans online was his bat, which featured the signature of legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. Stubbs’ tribute to the icon! Stubbs’ final innings appeared to be a subtle tribute to the icon, as he batted with the trademark Sanspareils Greenlands (SG) bat bearing the quote “Change what’s possible,” along with Sachin Tendulkar’s signature etched at the very bottom.Mufaddal Vohra @mufaddal_vohra From idol to inspiration! Tristan’s tribute to SRT on his bat spotted! Generations may come and go but SRT is forever. Jan 27, 2026, 11:25 PM Tristan Stubbs has never publicly spoken about Sachin Tendulkar’s influence on his career. Tendulkar, however, has previously lauded Stubbs for a stunning catch against England in 2022, an effort that brought the South African batter into the global spotlight.That inspiration came to the forefront as Stubbs celebrated the SA20 final victory as captain, following his magnificent 63 off 41 deliveries. Stubbs shared a valiant partnership with Matthew Breetzke, adding 114 runs off just 65 deliveries to completely swing the game. The partnership and control that let the duo win the game Breetzke stepped in when the match was almost out of Sunrisers’ control, with the side struggling at 48 for 4 after 8.4 overs when Stubbs walked in to anchor a chase that looked nearly impossible. Although the target of 159 was modest on paper, it appeared like a mountain for Stubbs and his team to climb. Yet, much like his idol as revealed by the bat he wielded, Stubbs refused to give up and continued the chase alongside Breetzke, matching him shot for shot and living up to the message written on his bat. After the victory, Stubbs admitted that he himself was shocked by the sudden twist in the game he and Breetzke brought. "I am so stoked, can't explain it! I don't know how we did it, but so much like we actually did a tough thing. Me and Matty were calm, but also panicking. We know we bat well together, and we kept looking for an over to get momentum, and it came in the 16th. We ran with it, and funny things happen underpressure,” Stubbs said in the post-match conference. Tristan Stubbs heroics justified Tendulkar inspiration Stubbs took on bowlers like Gideon Peters, Bryce Parsons, and Lungi Ngidi to derail Pretoria Capitals’ hopes of a maiden SA20 title. When Sunrisers needed 21 runs off the final two overs, Stubbs and Breetzke brought the equation down to single digits before the last over. From 56 required off 24 deliveries, Tristan Stubbs’ fearless approach guided Sunrisers Eastern Cape to their third SA20 title, perfectly justifying both the iconic SG bat and the signature of Sachin Tendulkar, who used the brand for the majority of his illustrious career.
