New Delhi: Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman Heinrich Klaasen has made a stunning assessment of the Chennai Super Kings, saying the absence of their charismatic former captain MS Dhoni “doesn’t really have a big impact” on the five-time IPL champions in 2026.After a mixed start to the season for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Klaasen downplayed the impact of Dhoni’s absence, hinting that there is more to CSK than just one man.“CSK has an incredible IPL record. Even without Dhoni, they are not weaklings. They are a very strong team. It will not be an easy game,” Klassen told JioStar News Room.“The impact on leadership is greater than the impact on batting”While acknowledging Dhoni’s status, Klassen emphasized that the veteran’s absence was more about leadership than his contribution on the field with the bat.“Dhoni’s absence does not have much impact. It is more about other people. I don’t think his absence will have such a big impact apart from his leadership,” he pointed out.The South African also pointed out that Dhoni’s impact with the bat has been limited of late. “In the last few years, he has only bowled between five and 10 balls,” Klassen added, underscoring why CSK have remained competitive even without their iconic finisher.SRH confident despite slow startKlassen’s comments come as SRH are looking to make a comeback after suffering two defeats in their first three matches. Their only win so far has been against Kolkata Knight Riders, while losses to Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Supergiants have exposed the gap.Despite the setback, Klassen remains optimistic. “It’s still early days in the game. We are confident that we will give our best in all departments going forward,” he said.SRH is also dealing with the temporary absence of skipper Pat Cummins, with Ishan Kishan taking over as skipper.Targeting CSK’s batting depthLooking ahead to the match against CSK, Klassen stressed the need to put pressure on a strong batting line-up.“Shivam (Dube) is in good form and they’ve started really well – we just need to put more pressure on them,” he said.Known for his aggressive approach, Klassen also spoke about his comfort level against spin. “I have played many games against spinners. They are chasing me and I am chasing them,” he said.Klassen’s candid remarks added spice to a high-stakes game as both teams look to stay on the same page.from cricket league schedule to the latest IPL 2026 points tabledon’t miss every moment of the battle IPL Orange Cap Champions and IPL purple cap
