With just two victories in eight games thus far in the IPL 2025, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has had a dismal campaign, and every defeat is eroding their chances of making the playoffs. Heinrich Klaasen, the team’s outstanding batsman, has consistently saved the day with those runs in the latter parts of the innings when the top order has failed.
Former England cricketer Nick Knight feels that the South African wicketkeeper-batter, who has been SRH’s only batsman, needs to be corrected right away because he still bats too low in the order.
Knight’s admission followed Heinrich Klaasen 71 off 44 against the Mumbai Indians (MI), when SRH was suffering at 13 for 3 and he entered the game at No. 5. They were 35 for 5 in the ninth over, despite the early collapse, when Heinrich Klaasen and Impact Player Abhinav Manohar stitched a partnership of 99 runs to raise SRH’s total to 143/8.
“Those of us who have watched him perform over the years and any onlookers are aware that he is capable of all of that and more. All he needs is a chance to do it more frequently. He is hitting much too low in that lineup, in my opinion. On ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out broadcast, Nick Knight stated, “Get him out there, six overs [or] a tick over.”
The right-hander is barely outside the Orange Cap top 10 with 281 runs from eight innings at an average of 40.14 and a strike rate of 159.65. His undefeated 21 against the Punjab Kings was his lowest score of the season.
Varun Aaron, Knight’s fellow panellist, too commended Heinrich Klaasen skills.
He simply gives the bowler nothing before the bowler can bowl, demonstrating how motionless he is [at the crease]. It appears that he is not attempting to overhit anything, as he is simply motionless while passing his hands through the ball. Now they can’t question themselves. The way SRH plays cricket, or Bazball, has produced results for them in the previous season. After finishing eighth and tenth in the previous two years, they returned to participate in the finals last year. Thus, that has produced outcomes for them. This year, it didn’t work out,” Aaron remarked.
Speaking about Heinrich Klaasen efforts, head coach Daniel Vettori stated that Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, SRH’s openers, will keep playing aggressively up front.
When you’re 24 for 4 following the powerplay, it’s challenging to [evaluate the par score and play appropriately]. At the press conference, SRH head coach Daniel Vettori stated, “Heinrich Klaasen and Abhinav had a great partnership and took some responsibility to try to get a score, but it wasn’t enough.”
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