Heinrich Klaasen has offered a blunt assessment of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s uneven start to IPL 2026, highlighting batting execution gaps and underwhelming fielding as the main issues behind their inconsistent results. With the side managing only one victory from their first three outings, Klaasen still believes the campaign is far from over and expects SRH—who won the title in 2016—to regain momentum.
Key takeaways
- Sunrisers Hyderabad have won just once in their first three IPL 2026 matches.
- Klaasen says SRH are falling short by around 40 runs across those games, pointing to missed batting opportunities.
- The 2016 champions’ fielding has been a major problem, affecting outcomes in key moments.
- Klaasen estimates his team’s overall work so far at 6 out of 10 and believes crucial phases haven’t been converted.
- He argues SRH should target totals in the 220–230 range to give their bowlers a realistic chance to defend.
- Individually, Klaasen has produced consecutive fifties and wants to keep that form going despite team losses.
What Klaasen believes is going wrong for SRH
Speaking candidly, Klaasen pointed to batting lapses as the foundation of SRH’s struggles. While he felt the team’s batting has shown decent signs, he believes they have failed to convert those starts into enough runs—missing what he estimates as roughly 40 runs over three matches. He stressed that SRH need to improve how they bat, especially in matches where the team has been pushed into tougher phases.
In particular, he referenced two defeats—against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants—as games where SRH couldn’t execute properly with the bat. Klaasen acknowledged that even though SRH played spells of strong cricket, they ended up losing control during the moments that mattered most.
Fielding, totals and the road to improvement
Klaasen also placed significant weight on fielding. He said SRH’s fielding has been poor and that it is directly influencing their performances and results. In his own evaluation of the campaign so far, he rated the team’s work at 6 out of 10, adding that despite flashes of brilliance, they have been let down when it comes to turning tight situations in their favour.
From a bowling perspective, Klaasen felt the bowlers—especially the pacers—have largely stuck to their planned approach. He suggested that the bulk of the batting group has been doing reasonably well, but he still wants improvement across the innings, particularly in the field. He emphasised that SRH need to hold onto their catches, implying that basic execution in the field could swing results in their favour.
Alongside fielding, Klaasen underlined the importance of putting up bigger totals. He argued that SRH should aim for scores in the 220–230 range, which would allow their bowling unit a better opportunity to defend once the opposition is set.
Klaasen’s form and his role at No. 4
Amid the team’s challenges, Klaasen has stood out personally. He has scored back-to-back fifties and described his start as positive even though SRH suffered defeats in two of the matches. He said he would like to keep building on that form.
Batting at No. 4, Klaasen explained that he enjoys the responsibility of adjusting to the rhythm of each match. He noted that his role has remained familiar throughout his career, where his job is to keep going regardless of whether key players are dismissed. He specifically mentioned that the situation changes when wickets fall, including if batters like Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, or Travis Head are out, and he believes the team needs to respond to those shifting scenarios consistently.
Next challenge for SRH
With an upcoming match against Punjab Kings, SRH will look to correct the shortcomings Klaasen has identified—improving batting conversion, strengthening fielding standards, and building towards defendable totals. The focus will be on turning promising periods of play into complete performances, rather than letting crucial moments decide the outcome.
