South African players continue to shine in IPL 2026, with Heinrich Klaasen, Ryan Rickelton and Kagiso Rabada all featuring prominently among the tournament’s leading performers.
Klaasen has been one of the standout batters of the competition and currently tops the run-scoring charts after another explosive display for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The powerful wicketkeeper-batter struck 69 in Hyderabad’s 33-run victory over Punjab Kings on Wednesday.
Finishing the innings with finesse 🤌
🎥 Some delightful shots in the final over from Heinrich Klaasen to finish 69 (43) 👏👏
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— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 6, 2026
The 34-year-old Klaasen has scored 494 runs in 11 innings at an average of 54.89, with five half centuries. He is 19 runs ahead of teammate Abhishek Sharma.
Also among the leading runscorers in this year’s competition is Mumbai Indians’ Ryan Rickelton who has amassed 380 runs from just eight innings, at an equally impressive average of 54.29.
Rickelton, 29, has a highest score this tournament of 123 not out off just 55 deliveries, scored against Sunrisers, to go with two fifties.
He has played several notable innings, including an equally blistering 81 not out off 43 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and 37 off 22 versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
A knock that had the Wankhede roaring for more 💙
🎥 Ryan Rickelton made it look too easy out there 👏
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— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 4, 2026
His aggressive batting has come at a strike rate of 190.95, the third highest among the top ten runscorers in IPL 2026, despite playing in a struggling MI team.
On the bowling front, Proteas and Gujarat Titans pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada sits third in the wicket-taker standings with 16 scalps. He is one behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar of RCB and Anshul Kamboj of CSK.
Fast bowler egos hit different. 🗿
That cold-blooded stare by Kagiso Rabada after removing Virat Kohli — pure aura. 🥶🔥
Kohli’s revenge arc awaits. 👀pic.twitter.com/nUO5cPxWs8
— AdityaVarma (@AdityaVarma45_) April 30, 2026
Rabada has once again underlined why he is regarded as one of the premier T20 bowlers in world cricket with his ability to strike at key moments.
He has played a key role in the Titans sitting in fifth place, just two points off log leaders Sunrisers.
Photos: Anushree Fadnavis; Francis Mascarenhas; Amit Dave / Reuters
