Nick Knight Recommends SRH to Push Heinrich Klaasen to the Top Order

Nick Knight, a former England batsman, has asked Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to increase Heinrich Klaasen's role by pushing him to the top order. Knight indicated that Klaasen, who is a talented South African wicket-keeper batsman, can do so much more than he has managed when he bats further down the order, normally at positions five or six. Klaasen's impressive 71 off 44 balls, including nine boundaries and two sixes, saved his team from a huge collapse against Mumbai Indians (MI) in their latest match. His solid partnership with Abhinav Manohar, during which the two added a 99-run partnership, pulled SRH out of a dangerous 35/5 to a slightly better 143/8 in their 20 overs. Even though they fought hard, MI pursued the target easily to claim the match by seven wickets.

Klaasen's innings was especially important as SRH were in a hopeless situation at 13/3. The South African batsman's calm performance on the crease not only stabilized the ship but also indicated his ability to score heavily if he were to be given sufficient time in the middle. Knight, in an appearance on ESPNCricinfo's TimeOut show, said that Klaasen must be pushed higher up the order. He pointed out that the batter can deliver more consistent and powerful performances if SRH gives him a chance to bat earlier. Knight clarified that it was too late for Klaasen to have a significant impact when SRH was already behind by such a large margin. He thinks that Klaasen has a right to express his potential more frequently.

Apart from Knight's observations, India's old pace bowler Varun Aaron too concurred with the observation and appreciated the tranquility of Klaasen at the crease. Aaron pointed out the way quiet Klaasen is when he is batting and how it makes him effectively execute shots. He highlighted that Klaasen doesn't attempt to hit the ball beyond its reach but is rather conscious of timing it correctly, a trait which makes the batter play better in a pressurized scenario.

The MI game was a bruising one for SRH, who were deep in trouble when their top order collapsed. While MI won the toss and decided to field first, SRH's batting did not hold together early on and they were reduced to a miserable 35/5. Yet, Klaasen and Abhinav Manohar did not accept defeat and engineered a partnership which kept SRH's hopes afloat. Klaasen's knock contributed significantly to taking SRH to 143/8, but all their attempts notwithstanding, MI's aggressive chase saw them take the win. MI's Rohit Sharma played in great shape, scoring 70 runs from 46 deliveries, and facilitated his team winning comfortably in a mere 15.4 overs.

On a general basis of SRH's performance this season, Klaasen has been their most reliable batter. With 281 runs from eight games at a 40.14 average and a striking rate of almost 160, he has provided good showings whenever requested. This consists of a half-century and no scores below 20, so he is a consistent contributor for a team that has struggled with consistency. That being said, other top-order batsmen such as Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan have also been inconsistent, adding to Klaasen's value.

SRH's captain Daniel Vettori also lauded Klaasen's effort in the post-match conference, appreciating the understanding he had with Abhinav Manohar. Vettori cited how difficult it is to judge a target or play according to that if the team is already in a disadvantaged position, but Klaasen and Abhinav approached the task responsibly and resolutely. Although their efforts did not yield any positive result, Vettori confessed that the aggregate they established wasn't enough to win.

As the season goes on, SRH will have to make some crucial changes if they hope to turn their fortunes around. With only two victories from eight games, they are placed in the ninth position on the table, whereas MI, with their fourth win in a row, have risen to third position. The squad will have to utilize Klaasen's talent to the fullest by giving him more opportunities in the middle and elevating him to an earlier position in the order. In doing so, they may be able to realize the potential of this talented batsman and revive their campaign.