NEW DELHI: Sunrisers Hyderabad batter Heinrich Klaasen has made a striking assessment of Chennai Super Kings, stating that the absence of their charismatic former skipper MS Dhoni “doesn’t really make much of a difference” to the five-time champions in IPL 2026.Speaking after Sunrisers Hyderabad’s mixed start to the season, Klaasen downplayed the impact of Dhoni’s absence as a player, suggesting that CSK’s strength lies beyond one individual.“CSK has got an incredible IPL record. Even with Dhoni not being there, they are not much of a lesser side. They are a very strong side. It’s not going to be an easy game,” Klaasen told the JioStar Press Room.‘Impact more in leadership than batting’While acknowledging Dhoni’s stature, Klaasen emphasised that the veteran’s absence is felt more in leadership than in his on-field contributions with the bat.“Dhoni not being there doesn’t really make much of a difference. It is more about other guys. I don’t think his absence will make such a big impact except for his leadership,” he noted.The South African also pointed out that Dhoni’s recent batting roles have been limited. “He has been coming to bat for just 5-10 balls in the last few years,” Klaasen added, underlining why CSK remain competitive even without their iconic finisher.SRH confident despite slow startKlaasen’s comments come at a time when SRH are looking 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 gaps.Despite the setbacks, Klaasen remains optimistic. “It’s still early days in the tournament. We are confident we will fire in all departments going forward,” he said.SRH are also dealing with the temporary absence of skipper Pat Cummins, with Ishan Kishan stepping in as captain.Targeting CSK’s batting depthLooking ahead to their clash against CSK, Klaasen stressed the need to apply pressure on a strong batting lineup.“Shivam (Dube) is in good form, their openers are fantastic — we just need to squeeze them a bit more,” he said.Klaasen, known for his aggressive approach, also spoke about his comfort against spin. “I’ve played a lot against spinners. They are coming for me and I am going after them,” he said.With both teams aiming to find consistency, Klaasen’s candid take adds spice to what promises to be a high-stakes encounter.
