At the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, two brilliant hundreds highlighted a pivotal match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad. While the media focused on Virat Kohli’s sixth IPL century in the second innings, former England cricketer and cricket commentator Kevin Pietersen ranked Heinrich Klaasen’s century as the best innings.
After losing two fast wickets in the powerplay, things were looking grim for Sunrisers Hyderabad. The host team was in serious trouble, but Heinrich Klaasen kept up his impressive form from the tournament so far by scoring a century in only 49 deliveries.
Former RCB captain Virat Kohli also scored a century in the second inning to put his team close to victory, but it was all in vain. Even though the RCB batsman earned a lot of praise for his record-setting sixth century, former England batsman and batting star Kevin Pietersen thought Klaasen’s century was superior since he was on a “dysfunctional team” that didn’t provide him with any help.
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His century came in record time and was sprinkled with some spectacular knocks, particularly against the spinners, suggesting a more ruthless attitude from the South African wicketkeeper-batsman. The experts have taken notice of his spin bowling skills since few foreign players have the equipment necessary to face the spinners on Indian wickets.
“Let me say something that won’t be liked. The one that Heinrich had was the better one. Klaasen’s century was the best. Think about being on a team that has already lost and doesn’t have much help,” Kevin Pietersen said on Star Sports that Klaasen’s century was “out of this world.”
The match was a must-win for the Bangalore-based team, so Kohli’s century was made under extreme duress. Nonetheless, his innings at the top of the order were crucial to RCB’s triumph. The former Indian great now shares the record with Chris Gayle for most centuries scored in the history of the sport, with six.
