Klaasen Blasts SRH to Record Win as KKR Crumble in Delhi
Delhi, May 25 — The 2025 season may not have ended with playoff qualification for Sunrisers Hyderabad, but it certainly concluded with fireworks. In what was essentially a dead rubber for both teams, SRH delivered a resounding statement, thrashing Kolkata Knight Riders by 110 runs in Match 68 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
For SRH, it was a perfect send-off — a brutal batting exhibition led by Heinrich Klaasen’s record-breaking ton, followed by a ruthless display of bowling. A season that began with promise ended with power, even if the inconsistency in the middle left them well outside the top four. For KKR, it marked the end of a turbulent title defence, one that rarely got out of second gear.
Head & Klaasen Set the Stage on Fire
Opting to bat first on a flat Delhi track, SRH’s openers set the tone early. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma came out blazing, stitching together a 92-run opening stand within just seven overs. Head, in particular, was relentless against the KKR spinners, hammering 76 off 40 balls and forcing the fielding side onto the back foot almost immediately.
After the openers departed, it was Heinrich Klaasen’s turn to take center stage — and he didn’t just seize the moment, he detonated it. The South African wicketkeeper-batter smashed a scintillating unbeaten 105 off just 39 deliveries, reaching his century in a mere 37 balls — equaling the third-fastest century in IPL history.
His innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression, featuring 9 sixes and 7 boundaries, many of which came off seasoned spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy, who had no answers to his clean hitting. With support from Nitish Reddy and Rahul Tripathi, Klaasen powered SRH to 278/3, the second-highest total of the season and one of the most dominant team displays in the tournament.
KKR Collapse in the Face of Fiery SRH Attack
Chasing 279 was always going to be a mountain to climb. Sunil Narine, as he has often done this season, tried to give KKR a head start, but once he perished, the innings unraveled rapidly. Within no time, KKR found themselves at 70/5, effectively ending any real hopes of a miraculous chase.
While Manish Pandey (37 off 23) and Harshit Rana (34 off 21) added some lower-order gloss with a 52-run partnership, the match had already slipped far beyond their grasp. SRH’s bowling unit, often under scrutiny throughout the season, finally fired in unison.
Veteran left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat (3/24), young pacer Ehsan Malinga (3/31), and spinner Harsh Dubey (3/34) each took three wickets, dismantling the KKR batting order and sealing a mammoth 110-run win.
Takeaways: A Season of Extremes for Both Sides
For Sunrisers Hyderabad, this emphatic win was a bittersweet reminder of what could have been. The team showed its potential in flashes — both at the start and at the end — but lacked the consistency needed to string together a playoff run. Players like Klaasen, Head, and Abhishek provided match-winning knocks, but the middle phase of the campaign saw too many collapses and underwhelming bowling efforts.
For Kolkata Knight Riders, the 2025 campaign will be one to forget. Their title defence fell flat amid recurring batting failures and a lack of spark in key moments. Despite having a squad brimming with talent, including the likes of Narine, Buttler, and Shreyas Iyer, the pieces never quite came together.
What’s Next? All Eyes on Jaipur
As SRH and KKR bow out, the spotlight now shifts to Jaipur, where Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians face off in a clash with massive playoff implications. A top-two finish is on the line — and with it, a crucial extra shot at the IPL final. It’s a clash of momentum, nerve, and strategy — and one that could shape the rest of the postseason.
Match Summary
- Sunrisers Hyderabad: 278/3 (Klaasen 105*, Head 76, Narine 1/42)
- Kolkata Knight Riders: 168 all out (Pandey 37, Rana 34; Unadkat 3/24, Dubey 3/34)
- Result: SRH won by 110 runs
- Player of the Match: Heinrich Klaasen
SRH fans may not have a playoff berth to cheer for — but if this performance was any indication, the future holds plenty of promise. 🔥
