South African wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen has expressed his admiration for Indian T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav, describing him as the “GOAT” of the format. Klaasen, known for his explosive batting style, revealed his thoughts on T20 cricket, his memorable innings, and his personal favorites in an interview with JioCinema’s Q20s show.
Klaasen described his batting style as “explosive” and named Suryakumar Yadav as the greatest T20 player of all time. He praised Yadav’s ability to hit fine leg off straight balls, a technique he would like to incorporate into his own game.
Reflecting on his T20 career, Klaasen recalled two standout performances against India: his 81 in 2022 and 69 in 2018. He chose the former as his favorite, citing the tougher conditions in which it was scored.
Klaasen also shared his admiration for other players, naming Jasprit Bumrah as the “toughest bowler to hit out in T20s” and Yuzvendra Chahal as “the funniest non-South African player” he has played with. He expressed his love for butter chicken as his favorite Indian dish.
For inspiration from other sports, Klaasen named Formula 1 World Drivers Championship winner Lewis Hamilton, saying, “I wish I had the ability to drive cars like him.” He also suggested that Nicholas Pooran is the one batter who could potentially score a double hundred in T20 cricket.
When asked who he would trust to bat for his life, Klaasen replied, “Probably Hashim Amla.” He admitted that he hesitates to try Suryakumar Yadav’s “Supla Shot” over fine leg, as he prefers not to get into line too much.
Klaasen’s insights provide a glimpse into the mindset of a modern-day T20 cricketer, who values explosive batting, innovation, and a competitive spirit.
