Heinrich Klaasen delivered a stunning performance in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s final match of the IPL 2025 season, scoring an unbeaten 105 off just 39 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders in New Delhi. His fireworks at the Arun Jaitley Stadium helped SRH post a colossal total of 278 for 3, capping off their campaign with a commanding 110-run victory.
Klaasen’s whirlwind century, which came in just 37 deliveries, stands as the joint third-fastest century in IPL history. After the match, he expressed deep gratitude to the franchise for sticking with the team’s aggressive, risk-heavy playing style despite a rocky season. “I want to thank my family and the franchise. They invest significant time and money into this style of cricket. We owe it to them to deliver strong performances,” said Klaasen.
SRH entered IPL 2025 as the defending champions but faced early setbacks, losing six of their first eight games. However, the team staged a spirited comeback by winning four of their final five completed matches. Klaasen acknowledged this shift and praised his teammates’ resilience, stating, “We had a rough start and things didn’t look good mid-season. But we managed to turn it around and played some brilliant cricket in the final stretch. It’s a great feeling to give something back to the fans and the owners.”
After a rain-affected no-result match against Delhi Capitals, SRH returned strongly by securing three straight wins to close out the season, each time crossing the 200-run mark. Klaasen’s century, featuring seven fours and nine sixes, elevated his season tally to 437 runs, making him SRH’s highest run-scorer. His contribution was key to achieving the third-highest total in IPL history, with all top four scores now belonging to SRH’s 2024-25 campaign.
Reflecting on the franchise’s strategy, Klaasen explained, “It’s been a long season full of ups and downs. We stuck with our aggressive mindset even when results weren’t coming. Luckily, I kept trusting the process and finally got my reward tonight.”
Though the win against KKR may not fully erase the sting of last year’s IPL final loss to the same team, it does send a strong message ahead of IPL 2026. With their power-packed batting lineup and fearless approach, Sunrisers Hyderabad look set to bounce back stronger and convert their potential into a winning legacy next season.
