HEINRICH KLAASEN

Heinrich Klaasen is the most feared middle-order T20 batter in South African cricket and one of the most destructive players in the modern era of franchise cricket worldwide. Born on 30 July 1991 in Pretoria, the right-handed wicketkeeper-batter has spent seven years carving out a reputation as the kind of player who can change the course of a match in a single over -- and has done so, repeatedly, at the highest level.

Klaasen made his T20 international debut for South Africa in February 2018 and was central to the Proteas' run to the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup final, where he was South Africa's leading run-scorer across the tournament. In 58 T20I appearances, he accumulated 1,000 runs at an average of 23, but his international numbers understate his true dominance -- Klaasen's franchise performances paint a far more complete picture. He announced his retirement from international cricket in 2025 to focus entirely on franchise cricket and his family, citing the toll of travel and a desire to be present for those closest to him.

In India's domestic T20 league with the Hyderabad-based franchise, Klaasen has been a phenomenon since joining in 2023. He scored over 400 runs at a strike rate above 170 in each of his three consecutive seasons, smashing 51 sixes across the 2023 and 2024 editions alone, and was retained ahead of the 2025 season for a record-setting fee. His league highlights include a 104 off 51 balls in 2023 and a 105 not out off 39 balls in 2025. 

For the Rotterdam Dockers, he is simply the most dangerous bat in the building.