Sunrisers Hyderabad’s campaign in IPL 2025 has been far from ideal. With only two wins from eight matches, they currently languish at the 9th spot on the points table. However, despite the grim scenario, South African star Heinrich Klaasen remains optimistic about SRH’s playoff chances. The 33-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, who was retained by the franchise for a staggering ₹23 crore ahead of the mega auction, believes the team still has clarity and focus on what’s required to turn their season around.
Speaking to Star Sports in a recent video, Klaasen said the team is committed to playing a particular style of cricket — one they believe in, despite the setbacks.
“We want to play a certain brand, and we’re sticking to that brand of cricket. We do understand that things might not always go according to plan, but we know exactly how many games we need to win to reach the playoffs. We’re content with where we are now. It’s just a matter of fine-tuning a few things and striving for consistency,” Heinrich Klaasen shared.
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The road ahead, though, is tough. SRH’s next challenge comes in the form of five-time champions Chennai Super Kings, with the two teams clashing on Friday, April 25, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
🗣 “We know how many games we need to win to get into the playoffs!”
That’s Hyderabad’s batting beast #HeinrichKlaasen for you. 🏏💥
Now, #SRH face #CSK in a high-stakes clash – one shot for both teams to keep their season hopes alive. 🔥#IPLonJioStar 👉 #CSKvSRH | 25th APR,… pic.twitter.com/Khr9U5Xobi
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 25, 2025
A loss against CSK could all but end SRH’s playoff hopes, as even if they win all remaining matches thereafter, they’ll only reach a maximum of 14 points — a total that may fall short this season in a tightly contested league. Adding more weight to the fixture is the milestone moment for CSK legend MS Dhoni, who is set to play his 400th T20 match, becoming only the third Indian after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to reach that landmark.
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Since debuting in T20S in 2006, Dhoni has amassed 7566 runs across 399 matches, with 266 of those appearances coming for CSK. Having recently returned to lead the side again, Dhoni continues to be a defining presence in yellow.
As Hyderabad prepares for this must-win game, all eyes will be on Klaasen and his fellow batters to deliver when it matters most — or risk fading out of the playoff race altogether.
