Sunrisers Hyderabad’s remarkable IPL 2026 campaign continued to gather momentum as they climbed to the top of the points table following a commanding 33-run victory over Punjab Kings on May 6. Led brilliantly by Pat Cummins, SRH have transformed into one of the most dangerous sides of the season after recovering from an inconsistent start. With seven wins from 11 matches and a healthy Net Run Rate of +0.737, Hyderabad now look firmly on course for a playoff berth.
After losing three of their opening four games, SRH bounced back strongly with a dominant five-match winning streak that completely changed the complexion of their season. Their batting unit has been relentless, while the bowlers have consistently delivered under pressure. Against Punjab Kings, Hyderabad once again showcased their firepower by posting a massive 235/4 before defending the total comfortably. One player who has been at the heart of this resurgence is Heinrich Klaasen, whose consistency and aggressive approach have made him the backbone of the SRH middle order.
Irfan Pathan explains why SRH star deserves a ‘special award’
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan was full of praise for Klaasen after the South African batter delivered another match-winning knock against Punjab Kings. Klaasen smashed 69 runs off just 43 deliveries in the high-scoring encounter, helping SRH take complete control of the game and eventually move to the top of the standings.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan highlighted how difficult it is for a middle-order batter to dominate the Orange Cap race, especially while batting at No. 4. According to him, Klaasen’s achievements this season deserve special recognition because he often walks in with fewer deliveries remaining compared to openers.
“If someone gets the Orange Cap while batting at No. 4 even once, especially halfway through the season, he needs to be given a special award. This doesn’t happen often. He doesn’t get a lot of balls, but despite that, he scores consistently. This guy is scoring runs in every match,” said Pathan.
The praise from Pathan reflects the impact Klaasen has had this season. While most Orange Cap contenders usually bat in the top order and get maximum time at the crease, Klaasen has managed to dominate bowlers despite arriving later in the innings. His ability to accelerate instantly and maintain consistency has made him one of the standout performers of IPL 2026.
Impressive campaign for the Proteas icon
Klaasen is currently enjoying one of the finest IPL seasons of his career. The explosive wicketkeeper-batter has accumulated 494 runs in 11 matches and currently leads the Orange Cap standings. He is averaging an outstanding 54.89 while striking at an impressive 157.32, numbers that underline both his consistency and attacking mindset.
The South African star has already become the first player this season to register five half-centuries, further proving his reliability in pressure situations. Time and again, Klaasen has rescued SRH from tricky positions and converted solid starts into match-winning totals.
Beyond the numbers, Klaasen’s calmness in the middle overs and his brutal finishing ability have added a new dimension to Hyderabad’s batting lineup. His partnership with the likes of Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Nitish Kumar Reddy has made SRH one of the most feared batting units in the competition.
