Heinrich Claassen of Sunrisers Hyderabad (AP Photo)
New Delhi: Heinrich Klaassen has assessed what is going wrong for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026, citing lapses in batting execution and poor fielding as the main reasons behind their inconsistent start.Despite only having one win in three matches, Klaassen believes it is “still early days” and is confident the 2016 champion can make a comeback. “Our batting has been good so far, but we have given away about 40 runs in three matches. We need to bat better. The two matches in which we struggled, we did not execute with the bat,” he said.Go beyond boundaries with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!SRH’s defeats to Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants exposed their shortcomings in crisis stages, something Klaassen has publicly acknowledged.“Our performance was poor and that’s what’s affecting us. I’ll give us 6 out of 10 so far. We played some great cricket in stages but lost in the crucial moments,” he admitted.While bowlers – especially baseball players – have largely stuck to their plans, Klassen stressed the need for collective improvement. “The bowlers are solid as per the plan, and the rest of the batting is in good form. I will give it 80 per cent, but our playing style needs to improve.”
We need to stick to our catch.”He also stressed the importance of achieving larger totals. “We need to get to the 220-230 mark to give our bowlers a chance to defend.”Klaassen finds his level amid the team’s strugglesOn the personal front, Klaasen has been one of the bright spots for SRH, scoring back-to-back fifties. He said, “Unfortunately, we lost two matches, but it was a good start for me. I would like to continue this level.”Batting at number four, the South African is relishing his role in adapting to different match situations. “It’s a role I’ve played throughout my career. My job is to carry on even if Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma or Travis Head leaves. Every match brings a different situation.”With the upcoming encounter against Punjab Kings, SRH will look to correct their shortcomings and turn promising phases into full-fledged performances.
