SRH batsmen run between the wickets during the IPL 2026 match against CSK. (Image credit: IPL)
New Delhi: Sunrisers Hyderabad star Heinrich Klaasen delivered both with the bat and in the press conference, making it clear that he is unfazed by criticism over his scoring pace in IPL 2026. Klaasen’s 59 off 39 balls proved crucial as SRH posted 194/9 and cruised past Chennai Super Kings by 10 runs in a closely contested encounter.Despite topping the charts this season, Klaasen’s strikeout rate is down compared to last year, drawing scrutiny. But the South African batsman denied the hype, stressing that awareness of the matches is more important than numbers. “I’ve been in difficult situations, and you have to take responsibility and be mature about it. That’s not how the game works,” said Klaassen, emphasizing his approach to adapting to circumstances and building meaningful innings. You can’t just start playing, that’s not how the game works. “We get paid to do the job, and I don’t care about batting average.”“You can’t just play”: Klassen explains his approachKlassen explained that his role often required stability rather than outright aggression, especially when wickets fell early. “I know there’s been a lot said about my batting average this season, but I’ve put the team in good stead. I’m just doing my job,” he said. Highlighting the challenges, he added that situations like losing multiple wickets quickly force him to curb his natural attacking instincts.
“It doesn’t mean I can get going. If you lose one more wicket, you’ll be five runs down. So, it’s about finding different ways to score 10 runs and keep getting a good score on the board.”His innings came on a slow surface, with SRH only 30 at the end of the powerplay, further illustrating the measured approach. Klaasen’s knock, along with 59 off 22 from Abhishek Sharma, laid the foundation for a competitive total, even as bowlers like Jimmy Overton and Anshul Kamboj kept CSK in the contest.In reply, CSK threatened through contributions from Aayush Mhatre, Matthew Short and Sarfaraz Khan, but SRH’s bowlers, led by Ishan Malinga and Nitish Kumar Reddy, kept their nerve at the death.The win lifted SRH to fourth on the table, reinforcing Klaassen’s point – impact is more important than optics.