Heinrich Klaasen has made history as the most expensive player ever retained by an IPL team before an auction. Sunrisers Hyderabad confirmed on Thursday that they have retained Klaasen for a record-breaking Rs 23 crore, surpassing the previous record of Rs 17 crore paid by Royal Challengers Bengaluru to retain Virat Kohli in 2017.
Klaasen played a crucial role in SRH's journey to the finals in the 2024 season, scoring 479 runs in 16 matches with an impressive strike rate of 171.07. The 33-year-old South African has been in exceptional form in T20 leagues worldwide, establishing himself as a highly sought-after talent in franchise cricket.
In a surprising move, Kohli was retained by RCB for Rs 21 crore, three crore more than the designated slab for retention. Lucknow Super Giants' Nicholas Pooran also received a retention fee of Rs 21 crore.
Also read| Why KL Rahul decided to part ways with Lucknow Super Giants ahead of IPL 2025 retention deadline?
