Sunrisers Hyderabad has retained South African cricketer Heinrich Klaasen for a record-breaking INR 23 crore (approximately USD 2.76 million), making him the most expensive player ever retained by an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise. The announcement, made Thursday, places Klaasen ahead of Virat Kohli, who was retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for INR 17 crore in 2017.
Klaasen, 33, played a crucial role for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) last season, scoring 479 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 171.07, propelling SRH to the 2024 IPL finals. Klaasen’s retention signals SRH’s confidence in the South African’s value to their lineup as the team looks to build on last season’s success.
Other significant retentions included RCB’s Virat Kohli and Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) Nicholas Pooran, each retained for INR 21 crore (approximately USD 2.52 million). The moves highlight the growing financial stakes in the IPL, as franchises compete to retain top talent ahead of the upcoming season.
