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“A huge boot to fill”: Keshav Maharaj on Klaasen’s international retirement
South Africa’s wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen, on June 2, called time on his international career, drawing curtains on a seven-year career. Klaasen, known for his big-hitting abilities, made a surprise announcement to bow out of international cricket. His journey in international cricket began in 2018 when he made his debut against India in an ODI.
During his time with the side, Klassen played a pivotal role in the team’s success, helping them hugely during the 2023 Cricket World Cup, the Champions Trophy 2025 , and the final of the T20 World Cup in 2024. Reacting to Klaasen’s decision, long-time teammate Keshav Maharaj lauded his influence on South African cricket.
“He's probably one of, if not the most feared batsman, especially in the white-ball game these days. Yeah, it's sad to know that he's walking away. He's still young. He's younger than me. But, you know, we can only wish him well. I'm sure he has his reasons as to why, and you've got to respect that,” Maharaj said as quoted by the ICC.
“Obviously, a huge boot to fill within the lineup. But I know he'll still be here supporting us and making sure that we get over the line in this game as well.”
Klaasen, across his 60 ODI matches, scored 2,141 runs, including four centuries and 11 half-centuries. He scored 1,000 runs in 58 T20Is. He also played four Tests for South Africa, scoring 104 runs.
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