Klaasen finished the tournament with 624 runs, becoming the first player ever to score more than 600 runs while batting at No 4 or lower.
The 34-year-old was one of the standout performers in IPL 2026, but was unable to inspire his Sunrisers Hyderabad to victory over the Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator on Wednesday.
Klaasen managed only 18 runs in the playoff match to add to the 606 runs he scored across 14 innings during the IPL league phase.
He scored his runs at 160.00 across the tournament while averaging 48, underlining both his destructive ability and consistency in the middle overs and at the death.
Finishing the innings with finesse 🤌
🎥 Some delightful shots in the final over from Heinrich Klaasen to finish 69 (43) 👏👏
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/8L0gAuxW78#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #SRHvPBKS | @SunRisers pic.twitter.com/jbmQ02eo0h
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 6, 2026
Retained by Sunrisers as one of their marquee players, Klaasen more than delivered throughout the tournament with six half-centuries. His batting exploits saw him smash 46 fours and 30 sixes during the tournament.
Such is his importance to the SRH batting cause that the team did not utilise him as a wicket-keeper despite him being listed as wicketkeeper-batter in the squad.
With two more playoffs matches to go, Klaasen (624 runs) sits third on the run scorer charts behind teenage superstar Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (680) and Sai Sudharsan (652), who both still have an opportunity to add to their total.
Shubman Gill (618) and Virat Kohli could also still overtake Klaasen in the runs scored standings but it takes nothing away from another stellar season from the South African.
HEINRICH KLAASEN IPL STATS FOR SRH
He first appeared for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL in 2018 before being bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for the 2019 season. He was released after one season.
Sunrisers Hyderabad signed him in 2023 for around R12 million and he repaid that with 448 runs in 11 innings at an average of 49.77 and a strike rate of 177.
Sunrisers retained Klaasen for the same price in 2024 and he produced another superb season, managing 479 runs in 15 innings as his team reached the final.
Wd, 1️⃣, Wd, Wd, 6️⃣, 6️⃣, 4️⃣, 6️⃣
Heinrich Klaasen against the premium bowler of RCB Hazelwood.#SRHvsRCB pic.twitter.com/wN7X3VIXi3
— Indian Cricket (@IPL2025Auction) May 22, 2026
Sunrisers Hyderabad were not going to take any chances of losing one of their star names and signed him up for around R48 million for the 2025 season . His 487 runs in 14 innings came at an average of 44.27 and a strike rate of 172.70.
Klaasen’s contract was renewed for the 2026 season at the same price and he has once again paid it back in spades with another remarkably consistent season.
Photo: Reuters
