AB de Villiers praised Heinrich Klaasen, describing him as one of the world’s best due to his ability to seamlessly switch gears and adapt his gameplay.
In a thrilling IPL 2024 match at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on March 23, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) clinched a nail-biting four-run victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). KKR set a formidable total of 208 runs, narrowly defended by superb performances from Heinrich Klaasen (63 runs) and Andre Russell (64* runs, 2/25).
JioCinema IPL expert AB de Villiers hailed Klaasen as one of the world’s best, praising his adaptability and discussing SRH’s missed opportunities. Despite SRH’s valiant effort, they fell short, leaving KKR victorious in a match characterized by intense competition and standout individual displays.
“I think SRH will be upset with how they started tonight. They had KKR in trouble and should’ve pushed through. One more wicket and this game would have been over. We know 200 is an average score at the Eden Gardens, but the batting performance showed really nice composure and set it up nicely,” De Villiers said on JioCinema’s Match Centre Live.
“Maybe they left it a little bit too late and asked too much of the batters like Klaasen, but the form the man is in, he is possibly the best player in the world right now. Why? He can go from gears one to five and five to one. He plays around and that’s why I think he’s one of the best in the world right now,” he added.
KKR, batting first, amassed 208/7 in 20 overs, powered by Phil Salt’s 54 and a quick cameo from Ramandeep Singh. Andre Russell’s explosive unbeaten 64 off 25 balls, studded with three fours and seven sixes, propelled them to their first 200-plus total of the season.
AB de Villiers also praised Russell’s performance, highlighting his ability to thrive under pressure despite limited cricketing appearances. Russell, who also claimed two wickets, received acclaim for his match-winning contributions.
SRH will face Mumbai Indians next, while KKR will clash with arch-rivals RCB on March 29.
Last Updated on March 24, 2024
