Rare failure for Heinrich Klaasen in humiliating IPL defeat as Kagiso Rabada runs riot
Sunrisers Hyderabad's South African cricket player Heinrich Klaasen watches the ball after playing a shot during the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 match between Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 12, 2026. Picture: Shammi MEHRA / AFP
Image: Shammi MEHRA / AFP
He was by no means solely responsible for his side’s loss, but one of Heinrich Klaasen’s rare failures in this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) coincided with a thumping defeat on Tuesday.
It was just Klaasen’s second time in his last 10 matches he did not reach 29, for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad.
Coming in at number five with SRH in heaps of at 23/3 after 3.1 overs in pursuit of a modest 169 to win, Klaasen could only manage 14 before he was out. When Klaasen did depart, SRH were circling the drain at 56/6.
In fact, the top score on the night for SRH was just 19 as they were bundled out for 86 as GT strode to an 82-run victory.
Kagiso Rabada Shines as GT Triumphs
Kagiso Rabada was in fine form for GT as he returned 3/28 in his four overs, as he was ably assisted by Jason Holder with similar figures of 3/20.
Despite his low score, Klaasen still leads the way as the IPL’s leading run-scorer this season after 12 matches. Coming in, in the middle order, his highest score is 69, but he’s already notched up five half-centuries for an incredible average of 50.
Just as important perhaps as the sheer weight of runs has been Klaasen’s strike rate of 153.
Recently, Klaasen ruled out any hopes of a return to the Proteas as he was asked if his top form in the IPL might make him reconsider his retirement from international cricket.
Klaasen announced his retirement from international cricket in June last year, after playing 60 ODIs, 58 T20Is, and four Tests.The timing of his retirement came as something of a shock, just a few months out from the T20 World Cup, which was held in February and March this year.