New Delhi, May 25 (UNI) South African wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen lit up the Arun Jaitley Stadium with a ferocious century off just 37 balls, equalling the third-fastest hundred in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), during Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) high-voltage encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) here on Sunday.

Klaasen's electrifying innings, laced with 7 boundaries and 9 sixes and fierce strokes across the ground, matched the long-standing 37-ball blitzkrieg by Yusuf Pathan for Rajasthan Royals in 2010.

Only Chris Gayle’s 30-ball mayhem for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013 and Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s 35-ball ton for Rajasthan Royals earlier this season stand ahead of Klaasen in the record books.

En route to the century, Klaasen brought up his fifty in just 17 balls, breaking Sunrisers Hyderabad’s all-time record for the fastest half-century in IPL. He bettered the previous mark of 16 balls jointly held by Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, both of whom achieved the feat in the 2024 season.

The 32-year-old showcased his trademark clean hitting and composure, dismantling the KKR attack with disdain. His knock provided the much-needed thrust to SRH’s innings in a crucial stage of the tournament, as they looked to consolidate their position in the playoff race.

As of May 25, Klaasen has scored two centuries in IPL history, reinforcing his status as one of the most feared middle-order strikers in T20 cricket.

Klaasen’s record-equalling effort not only etched his name into IPL folklore but also delivered a timely reminder of his value as a match-winner, especially in high-stakes contests.

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