Heinrich Klaasen Injury Update: Will South Africa Star Play in Champions Trophy 2025 Match Against Australia?

Heinrich Klaasen injury update: The South African wicketkeeper-batter missed the team's Champions Trophy 2025 opener against Afghanistan last week in Karachi as precaution due to a left elbow soft tissue injury.

Despite his absence, South Africa registered a massive 107-run victory, riding on Ryan Rickelton's maiden ODI century, to open their Champions Trophy campaign on a winning note at the National Stadium.

The Proteas altered their batting order to cope with Klaasen's absence. Rickleton, who is likely to be the first-choice wicketkeeper, opened alongside Tony de Zorzi with skipper Temba Bavuma moving to number three.

Now, the Proteas will hope to get their best XI starting when they face Australia in their second Group B match in which either team can get closer to booking a semi-final spot. Ahead of the crucial contest in Rawalpindi, South African skipper Temba Bavuma gave an update on Klaasen's fitness.

Will Heinrich Klaasen play for South Africa vs Australia in Champions Trophy 2025?

The South African skipper has revealed that Klaasen's return to the playing 11 will depend on medical clearance with both the player himself and the medical team taking the call after the practice session.

"They still have to assess his fitness there is obviously still the practice today so he will do his practice today. Mainly he is batting and I guess him and the medical team they will make a decision accordingly," Bavuma said at the pre-match press conference.

Having already won their first match without Klaasen, South Africa may not want to rush their most in-form player. But with the semi-final spot on the line, there is every chance, the Protea may include the big-hitting batter to help finish off innings.

If he does feature, the most likely player to miss out from the playing 11 is opener De Zorzi with Bavuma returning to his opening spot alongside Rickelton, and the rest of the batting order also moving up to slot in Klaasen in the middle-order.

Klaasen will be a crucial player for Proteas heading into the match as he is in a solid run of form. In his last four ODIs, he has made 351 runs at an average of 87.75 and a strike rate of 130, with fifties in all matches and best score of 97.

Since 2023 in ODIs, Klaasen has made 1,278 runs in 26 innings at an average of 53.25, with a strike rate of 137.57. He has made three centuries and six fifties, with the best score of 117.