Ex-New Zealand Pacer Ranks Virat Kohli With This Batter!! Predicts Semifinal Winner Of Champions Trophy 2025

The former New Zealand pacer, Simon Doull, has kept both Virat Kohli and South Africa’s aggressive wicket-keeper batter, Heinrich Klassen, in the same bracket before the second semifinal between the two sides of the Champions Trophy 2025 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Klassen missed the tri-series against Pakistan and the Kiwis before being absent from the first two encounters of the eight-team tournament due to an injury before returning to the final group-stage encounter against England at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Heinrich Klassen’s performance vs England in the Champions Trophy 2025

Klassen had a hot and cold season in SA20 for the Durban Supergiants when he drilled 198 runs in eight innings at an average of 28.28 and a strike rate of 134.69, shouldering on two half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 76 runs.

Also Read: Pakistan’s T20I Squad vs New Zealand Leaked By Ex-Batter!! Babar Azam Out

In the case of his aggression, one could question Klassen’s performance in the ODI format. Against England, the right-handed batter smacked 64 runs in just 56 deliveries at a strike rate of 114.29, shouldering on 11 boundaries, as they chased down 180 runs with seven wickets in hand and more than 30 overs to spare.

In 59 ODIs, Klassen has managed 2138 runs at an average of 44.53 and a strike rate of 117.34, with the help of 11 half-centuries and four centuries at the best score of 174 runs.

Simon Doulls keeps South Africa ahead of New Zealand in Lahore semifinal

Simon Doull believes that there is no better player in the current world cricket than Klassen, who could smash the spinners better on the back foot. He also kept Virat Kohli and the Pretoria-born in the same bracket for how he waits for the delivery and displays the power to go downtown with cracking shots.

“It’s hard to separate him and Virat Kohli at the moment. You know, some people will have Klassen at one, while a few will have Kohli at one. It doesn’t matter because they will be first equal, at least for mine.” Doull expressed this in a recent interaction on Sky Sports.

“Klassen is an absolute gem, whether it’s been spin or anything. I don’t think anybody hits the spinners on the backfoot better; he waits for the slow pace, and he can hit downtown better than anyone in the world. So, South Africa is a cracking-looking side, and they bat deep, and even New Zealand bats deep. So, it will come down to bowls better, I think.” The former New Zealand pacer highlighted.

With both sides batting deep, Doull bets on the Proteas because of their classic bowling line-up. His only concern is the Blackcaps’ death overs bowling and how it could affect the knockouts.

Also Read: India vs Australia Umpires For Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-Final Revealed!! India Get This Advantage

“And it feels like South Africa has got the wood as a genuine bowling line-up. The only issue for New Zealand is their death bowling. It was quite good against India, but on a flat surface, on a really good batting surface, will it remain the same?” Doull concluded.

New Zealand seeks 10-year revenge on South Africa

The last knockout game between the two sides came in the 2015 ODI World Cup when the Kiwis blew away the Rainbow Nation out of the tournament.

Now, it will be the turn for the Tamba Bavuma-led side to show their power in the 50-over format and end their chokers’ tag by winning an ICC event after a long time. The Mitchell Santer-led side will hope to be back on the winning track after a rare defeat in the format this year against India.