NEW DELHI: Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman Heinrich Klaasen made a remarkable assessment of Chennai Super Kings when he said the absence of their charismatic former captain MS Dhoni “doesn’t make much of a difference” to the five-time champions in IPL 2026.After a mixed start to Sunrisers Hyderabad’s season, Klaasen played down the impact of Dhoni’s absence as a player, suggesting that CSK’s strength lies beyond one individual.
Watch
CSK is organizing a fan engagement event in Chepauk ahead of IPL 2026 “CSK have an incredible IPL record. Even without Dhoni, they are not much of a lesser side. They are a very strong side. It will not be an easy game,” Klaasen told the JioStar press center.“More influence on the lead than on the batting”Acknowledging Dhoni’s stature, Klaasen emphasized that the veteran’s absence is felt more in leadership than in his contributions on the field with the bat.“Dhoni not being there doesn’t really change much. It’s more about other people. I don’t think his absence will have that much of an impact, apart from his leadership,” he noted.The South African also pointed out that Dhoni’s recent batting roles have been limited. “He’s only bowled 5-10 balls in the last few years,” Klaasen added, highlighting why CSK remain competitive without their iconic finisher.SRH confident despite slow startKlaasen’s comments come as SRH look to bounce back after two defeats in their first three matches. Their only win so far has come against Kolkata Knight Riders, while losses to Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants have exposed the gaps.Despite the setbacks, Klaasen remains optimistic. “It is still early days in the tournament. We are confident of firing in all departments in the future,” he said.SRH are also dealing with the temporary absence of skipper Pat Cummins, with Ishan Kishan as the captain.Focus on CSK’s batting depthLooking ahead to their clash with CSK, Klaasen stressed the need to put pressure on a strong batting line-up.“Shivam (Dube) is in good form, their openers are fantastic – we just need to squeeze them a bit more,” he said.Known for his aggressive approach, Klaasen also talked about comfort against spin. “I have played against spinners a lot. They go for me and I go for them,” he said.With both teams aiming to find consistency, Klaasen’s honest approach adds spice to what promises to be a high-stakes encounter.From IPL table to latest IPL 2026 points table, don’t miss the moment of the battle for IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple Cap winners
