Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) ended their IPL 2025 campaign on an emphatic high, largely thanks to a phenomenal 37-ball century from Heinrich Klaasen. In an inconsequential yet explosive encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Delhi, Klaasen’s brutal display of power-hitting propelled SRH to a mammoth total of 278/3, the third-highest in IPL history, securing a thumping 110-run victory.
While the season as a whole had been one of disappointment for SRH, who finished towards the bottom of the table, Klaasen’s innings was a stark reminder of his immense talent and the franchise’s significant investment in him. His unbeaten 105 off just 39 balls was laced with seven fours and nine sixes, leaving the KKR bowlers scrambling for answers.
Klaasen’s century was not just a personal milestone but also etched his name into the IPL record books as the joint third-fastest century in the tournament’s history, matching Yusuf Pathan’s 37-ball effort from 2010. Only Chris Gayle’s 30-ball and Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s 35-ball centuries stand ahead of him.
The South African wicketkeeper-batsman, who was retained for a hefty sum, admitted after the match that it had been a long and disappointing season for the team. However, he expressed satisfaction in sticking to his processes and finding his form when it mattered. His innings truly demonstrated why SRH had placed such high hopes on him, particularly against spin, as he mercilessly targeted KKR’s spin duo of Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine.
The Klaasen onslaught was set up by a blistering start from Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, who put on a rapid 92-run opening partnership. Head himself contributed a swashbuckling 76 off 40 balls. But it was Klaasen who took center stage, racing to his fifty in just 17 balls and continuing his relentless assault throughout the innings.
Defending a colossal 279, the SRH bowlers also delivered a clinical performance, with Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga, and Harsh Dubey all picking up three wickets each to dismantle KKR’s batting lineup. KKR were eventually bowled out for 168, a testament to SRH’s all-round dominance on the day.
While this commanding victory came too late to alter SRH’s overall standings in the IPL 2025 season, it provided a much-needed morale boost and a spectacular display of individual brilliance, especially from Heinrich Klaasen, to cap off their campaign.
