SRH need 220-230 to give bowlers a chance to defend: Heinrich Klaasen
Heinrich Klaasen believes that SunRisers Hyderabad bowling attack do not have the strength to defend less than 220-230 runs in the Indian Premier League. Klaasen has warned the batting unit, stating that they are leaving at least 40 runs in every single game.
Sunrisers Hyderabad do not currently have the bowling depth to defend totals below 220, according to batter Heinrich Klaasen, who has called on the batting unit to step up in IPL 2026.
Speaking ahead of their match against Punjab Kings, Klaasen said that the team’s bowlers are being left with too much to do, with the batters failing to maximise scoring opportunities in the first few games of the season.
“We’ve missed out on about 40 runs over three games. There is still a lot of work to do for our batters. We need to get to that 220-230 mark and give our bowlers a chance of defending,” Klaasen told India Today while speaking on JioStar Press Room ahead of TATA IPL 2026 - Rivalry Week, starting from 12th to 18th April.
SRH have endured an inconsistent start to their campaign, winning just one of their first three matches. Their struggles have largely come with the bat, where promising starts have not translated into imposing totals.
Klaasen’s comments underline a clear imbalance in the side, with the batting unit expected to compensate for a bowling attack that has found it difficult to contain opposition sides in high-scoring conditions.
Despite the team’s results, Klaasen has been the standout performer in the SRH line-up. The South African has continued his strong run in the IPL, showing little rust despite stepping away from international cricket in recent months.
Often coming in at No. 4, he has been tasked with both stabilising the innings and accelerating through the middle overs, particularly against spin.
Klaasen said his ability against spin has been built over years of exposure to quality slow bowling, both at home and in the subcontinent.
“We’re blessed in South Africa to have some quality spinners as well. I’ve played a lot of four-day cricket at a stage where it was very important for my career, and most of those spinners were playing that format too,” he said.
That early exposure helped him get comfortable against the ball turning away from him, something he further developed through regular net sessions.
“I also faced a lot of Tabraiz Shamsi in the nets, and he’s a quality spinner. It was a lot of training, a lot of hours spent in the nets, experimenting and figuring things out,” Klaasen added.
His time in the subcontinent also played a role in shaping that aspect of his game.
“I’ve been coming to India for five or six years now, so over time I’ve gained experience. Earlier in my career, we also toured Sri Lanka, where the ball spun quite a bit. That forced me to adapt, learn new tricks, and improve my game,” he said.
“I feel very fortunate to have developed a skill set to play spin well. But it’s always a challenge.”
SRH will hope that improvements from the batting unit ease the pressure on both Klaasen and the bowling attack as the tournament progresses. They face Punjab Kings at Mullanpur on Saturday, April 11. The match is scheduled to start at 3:30 pm IST.
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Sunrisers Hyderabad do not currently have the bowling depth to defend totals below 220, according to batter Heinrich Klaasen, who has called on the batting unit to step up in IPL 2026.
Speaking ahead of their match against Punjab Kings, Klaasen said that the team’s bowlers are being left with too much to do, with the batters failing to maximise scoring opportunities in the first few games of the season.
“We’ve missed out on about 40 runs over three games. There is still a lot of work to do for our batters. We need to get to that 220-230 mark and give our bowlers a chance of defending,” Klaasen told India Today while speaking on JioStar Press Room ahead of TATA IPL 2026 - Rivalry Week, starting from 12th to 18th April.
SRH have endured an inconsistent start to their campaign, winning just one of their first three matches. Their struggles have largely come with the bat, where promising starts have not translated into imposing totals.
Klaasen’s comments underline a clear imbalance in the side, with the batting unit expected to compensate for a bowling attack that has found it difficult to contain opposition sides in high-scoring conditions.
Despite the team’s results, Klaasen has been the standout performer in the SRH line-up. The South African has continued his strong run in the IPL, showing little rust despite stepping away from international cricket in recent months.
Often coming in at No. 4, he has been tasked with both stabilising the innings and accelerating through the middle overs, particularly against spin.
Klaasen said his ability against spin has been built over years of exposure to quality slow bowling, both at home and in the subcontinent.
“We’re blessed in South Africa to have some quality spinners as well. I’ve played a lot of four-day cricket at a stage where it was very important for my career, and most of those spinners were playing that format too,” he said.
That early exposure helped him get comfortable against the ball turning away from him, something he further developed through regular net sessions.
“I also faced a lot of Tabraiz Shamsi in the nets, and he’s a quality spinner. It was a lot of training, a lot of hours spent in the nets, experimenting and figuring things out,” Klaasen added.
His time in the subcontinent also played a role in shaping that aspect of his game.
“I’ve been coming to India for five or six years now, so over time I’ve gained experience. Earlier in my career, we also toured Sri Lanka, where the ball spun quite a bit. That forced me to adapt, learn new tricks, and improve my game,” he said.
“I feel very fortunate to have developed a skill set to play spin well. But it’s always a challenge.”
SRH will hope that improvements from the batting unit ease the pressure on both Klaasen and the bowling attack as the tournament progresses. They face Punjab Kings at Mullanpur on Saturday, April 11. The match is scheduled to start at 3:30 pm IST.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
