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South Africa’s veteran spinner Keshav Maharaj has paid glowing tribute to Heinrich Klaasen, following the wicketkeeper-batter’s unexpected retirement from international cricket.
Speaking to the ICC while preparing for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final, Maharaj reflected on Klaasen’s impactful yet relatively short international career, praising his evolution into one of the most dangerous white-ball batters in world cricket.
“He is probably one of, if not the most feared batsmen, especially in the white-ball game these days,” Maharaj said.
“Yeah, it is sad to know that he is walking away. He is still young—he’s younger than me. But you know, we can only wish him well. I’m sure he has his reasons, and you’ve got to respect that.”
Klaasen, who debuted for South Africa in 2018, enjoyed notable success in limited-overs formats, particularly ODIs, where he played 60 matches, scored 2,141 runs at an average of 43.69, and struck at an impressive 117.05.
His career-defining knock came against Australia in Centurion in 2023, where he hammered a brutal 174 off just 83 balls — the highest-ever ODI score by a batter at No. 5 in history.
Keshav Maharaj described Klaasen’s rise as a story of perseverance and timing.
“It is amazing to see how his journey transitioned—from being in and out of the team, probably not knowing where he stood, to one series that really changed the game,” he noted.
“It’s a huge boot to fill in the lineup, but I know he’ll still be supporting us and making sure we get over the line in this game as well.”
The 2020 ODI series against Australia was pinpointed by Maharaj as the turning point in Klaasen’s career, a moment that saw him cement his place in South Africa’s white-ball setup.
Klaasen’s performance in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final also stood out for Maharaj, who labelled it a testament to his big-match temperament.
“He brought us back into the game and gave us a little bit of hope. We probably did not cross the final hurdle, but it was super special to witness his calibre in a game of that magnitude. It just shows why he’s world-class,” he said.
In T20Is, Heinrich Klaasen featured in 58 matches, scored 1,000 runs at a strike rate of 141.84, and registered five fifties. He also played four Test matches, scoring 104 runs at an average of 13.00.
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