Heinrich Klaasen, who was retained by the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) franchise for INR 23 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, could well be released into the pool ahead of the IPL 2026 auction next month. 

While the SRH camp has been tight-lipped on the former South Africa international, other IPL franchises have picked up on the rumors and added him to their wish list.

Klaasen, 34, has announced his retirement from international cricket, and while he hit 105 off 39 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the franchise's final game in the 2025 edition of the cash-rich league, his brief appearances did not translate into consistent big runs.  

With an ambitious retention at INR 23 crore—higher than skipper Pat Cummins' Rs 18 crore price tag—Klaasen might be released to boost the purse, and it would not be surprising if SRH bid strongly for him again at the auction.

Releasing Klaasen will free up that money for SRH, which can be used to rebuild their squad after finishing sixth in IPL 2025. Reports have stated that the SRH management is debating its auction strategy and is eager to improve for the upcoming season, particularly in light of the subpar returns in 2025 that followed the team's 2024 runner-up finish.

"There are strong murmurs, and it could well be a smart move by SRH if they do that. Going into the auction with Rs 23 crore more allows them a reasonable shot to fill in the crucial gaps—assemble a penetrating bowling attack and get their middle-order act right. They can even have a fair shot at getting the South African back for around Rs 15 crore, and the balance can help them do some effective shopping," an industry source was quoted by the Times of India.

Mohammed Shami (INR 10 crore) and Harshal Patel (INR 8 crore), the other two major acquisitions for SRH, did not enjoy the season they had anticipated.

While Patel took 16 wickets in 13 games at a rate of almost 10 per over, Shami struggled with fitness. Shami's recent domestic circuit performances have generated interest, but the franchises will probably proceed cautiously. SRH may also adopt a similar strategy.

SRH is also aiming to add a strong spinner to their squad, unhappy with Rahul Chahar’s performance. The leggie played only one game but is said to have underperformed in intra-squad games, forcing SRH to use little-known Zeeshan Ansari in ten games before switching to left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey.