Heinrich Klaasen is a famous South African cricketer. People know him for his big hits, his calm mind, and his sharp work as a wicketkeeper. He comes from Pretoria and made his name in cricket through pure hard work. In 2025, he surprised many fans by stepping back from international cricket but promised to keep playing league cricket. Let’s read his story — his childhood, family, love life, career journey, records, controversies, and what he plans to do next.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Heinrich Klaasen |
| Date of Birth | 30 July 1991 |
| Birthplace | Pretoria, South Africa |
| Age (as of 2025) | 33 Years |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Batting Style | Right-handed middle-order batter |
| Role | Wicketkeeper-batsman |
| Test Debut | 19 Oct 2019 vs India |
| ODI Debut | 7 Feb 2018 vs India |
| T20I Debut | 18 Feb 2018 vs India |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Sone Martins (Radiographer) |
| Children | Daughter named Laya |
| Franchise Teams | Sunrisers Hyderabad, Titans, Seattle Orcas |
| Highest ODI Score | 174 vs Australia |
| IPL Best | 105* off 39 balls (2025 IPL) |
| Known For | Calm mind, power hitting, wicketkeeping |
| Hobbies | Fishing, golf, BBQ, family road trips |
Early Life: A Pretoria Boy with a Big Dream
Heinrich Klaasen was born on 30 July 1991 in Pretoria, South Africa. Pretoria is a city full of sports and young kids who dream of playing for the Proteas. Heinrich’s father, Paul Klaasen, loved sports too. Heinrich’s dad supported him a lot but sadly passed away when Heinrich was still playing domestic cricket. This made Heinrich stronger because he wanted to make his dad proud.
Heinrich’s mom looked after him and his younger brother. They were not rich but they stayed happy and worked hard. Heinrich grew up playing cricket in school and parks. He also played rugby but cricket was his first love.
School and Studies: Education & Cricket Together
Heinrich went to Hoërskool Menlopark, a famous school in Pretoria. He studied well and also played cricket for the school team. Later, he went to the University of Pretoria. Even in university, he worked hard to balance books and bat. His teachers say he was always respectful and calm.
Family: Always By His Side
Heinrich is very close to his family. He always says his parents gave him the strength to fight in hard times. His father taught him to stay humble. His mom always keeps him grounded and reminds him of his roots. His younger brother sometimes travels with him when he plays local cricket.
Even now, when he earns well and plays IPL, Heinrich never forgets his simple life at home. He loves family dinners, braais (South African BBQ), and fishing trips with them.
Marriage & Love Life: Meet His Wife
Many fans ask — does Heinrich Klaasen have a girlfriend? The answer is no because Heinrich is happily married! He married Sone Martins, a sweet and simple woman who works as a radiographer. They dated for many years and got married on September 2020 in an intimate wedding with family and friends.
Sone is his biggest support. She stays away from social media and fame. She likes to keep their family life private. The couple now has a cute baby girl named Laya. Heinrich loves to share small moments with her on Instagram — feeding her, playing with her, or just holding her close after tough matches.
Physical Stats: Strong and Fit
Heinrich is strong and fit. He trains daily to stay in shape because he plays many matches in tough weather.
- Height: 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm)
- Weight: Around 75 kg
- Eye Color: Blue
- Hair Color: Blonde
- Body Type: Athletic
Many people say he looks like a Viking because of his beard and strong build!
Early Domestic Career: Hard Work Pays Off
Heinrich started playing for Northerns in domestic cricket. Later, he played for the Titans, a famous South African franchise. For many years, he worked under big players like AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis.
Heinrich’s special talent was playing spin bowling well. He became known for powerful strokes, calm finishing, and good wicketkeeping. His domestic record opened doors for his national call-up.
International Debut: Making His Mark
ODI Debut
Heinrich made his ODI debut on 7 February 2018 against India. He impressed everyone by scoring a cool 43 runs under pressure. He was also sharp behind the stumps.
T20I Debut
He played his first T20 International on 18 February 2018, also against India. He scored a quick 69 runs in that series and showed he could handle big teams.
Test Debut
Heinrich got his chance in Tests in October 2019. He debuted against India too. But he didn’t get many Test chances because South Africa already had good players in that format.
IPL & Franchise Cricket: Big Hitter in Big Leagues
Heinrich has played for many T20 franchises around the world. His IPL journey started with Rajasthan Royals in 2018. Later, he joined Royal Challengers Bangalore, then Sunrisers Hyderabad. In the 2023 IPL, Heinrich smashed his first IPL century — 104 not out off 51 balls. He repeated that magic with another 100-plus score in the 2025 IPL.
Fans love how he attacks spin and pace alike. He also played in the SA20 League, the Caribbean Premier League, and even Major League Cricket in the USA. In 2024, he smashed a 110-run knock for Seattle Orcas — the highest score in the league at that time.
Big Moments & Records
Heinrich Klaasen has many great knocks to his name:
- 174 off 83 balls vs Australia in ODIs — his career-best!
- Over 2,100 ODI runs with an average above 43.
- Over 1,000 T20I runs for South Africa.
- First South African to hit a century in Major League Cricket (USA).
- Multiple fifties in tough matches against India and Australia.
- In IPL, he holds the record for one of the fastest centuries for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Heinrich’s six-hitting ability makes him one of the most dangerous middle-order players in white-ball cricket.
Small Controversy: Learning from Mistakes
Heinrich is mostly calm and respectful on the field. But in May 2023, he got into a small controversy. He was fined 10% of his match fee in the IPL for showing dissent to an umpire’s decision. He later accepted his mistake and said it was heat of the moment. This shows that even good players lose their cool sometimes, but real heroes accept it and move on.
International Retirement: Focusing on Family & Leagues
In June 2025, Heinrich shocked fans when he announced his retirement from international cricket. He said the travel was too much and he wanted to spend more time with his wife and baby girl. He promised his fans that he would still play IPL, SA20, and other leagues for a few more years.
Cricket South Africa respected his choice because he served the team well. Heinrich said he will also help young wicketkeepers and batsmen in South Africa by giving them tips and support.
Life Outside Cricket: Simple & Happy
When Heinrich is not hitting sixes, he loves to:
- Go fishing with his family.
- Play golf with friends.
- Cook South African BBQ at home.
- Take road trips with his wife and daughter.
- Play with his dogs.
He stays away from controversies and gossip. He loves to keep life simple.
Future Plans: Still Hitting Big
Heinrich says he wants to play cricket until his body supports him. He will play IPL, SA20, and other T20 leagues for at least three more years. He also dreams of opening a cricket academy for kids in Pretoria one day. He wants to tell every small-town kid that “big dreams come true if you stay calm and keep working.”
